site.btaBulgaria’s Solar Industry Eco Fee Rises to Among Highest in EU, BASEL Study Shows

Bulgaria’s eco fee on the solar industry is set to become one of the highest in the European Union, according to a study released by the Bulgarian Association for Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASEL) on Friday.

Starting July 1, 2025, the prices of photovoltaic panels, inverters, and batteries will see a sharp increase due to a product eco fee. The tax rate will jump from 2% to 16%, several times higher than the typical European range of 0.3% to 3% of the product price, such as that of a photovoltaic panel.

According to BASEL, the reason behind this drastic rise is that three out of four companies in Bulgaria specializing in recycling electronics and electrical equipment, including components for solar systems, have simultaneously decided to increase their service fees tenfold. This move was made without substantial justification, these companies being an alternative to producers and importers who seek to avoid paying higher product fees set by the government and collected by the Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities.

BASEL warned that this sharp and unilateral increase in product fees will also affect end consumers. For example, the eco fee for an average household photovoltaic system with 15 panels will rise from BGN 50.40–90 to BGN 403.20–720. For a larger system with 18 panels, the fee will increase from BGN 56–100 to BGN 448–800. Most Bulgarian homes require 15 to 20 panels for a standard rooftop installation, depending on roof size, orientation, and desired system capacity.

The steep rise in the eco fee impacts not only photovoltaics but also inverters, batteries, and all solar system components.