site.btaRenewables Increasing Need for Efficient Energy Storage, Says Expert

The increasing production of energy from renewable sources poses the challenge of storing surplus energy, Chamber of Engineers in the Investment Design's Sliven Regional College Chair Ivaylo Videv told Bulgarian News Agency's correspondent Velina Vasileva on Friday.

Sliven hosts a national conference on energy and challenges of new technologies, organized by Chamber of Engineers in the Investment Design. The three-day forum opened on Friday. It also features discussions on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, with a focus on improving charging stations.

The balancing of the electricity system requires solutions both in industry and in households, said Videv. "For now, technology offers mostly the use of lithium-ion batteries. They are used in container form at power plants, but are also spreading to households and small businesses," he explained.

He noted that Bulgaria is working in several aspects in the field of energy storage. One is the rehabilitation of the Chaira Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant, which is the largest pumped storage plant in the Balkans, with several more projects yet to be implemented. They are considered the most efficient energy storage technologies.

At the same time, more and more investors are installing their own storage systems to avoid zero energy prices during the day and make a profit by selling the energy in the evening.

He also said that the largest lithium-ion battery recycling plant in the Balkans is being built in Burgas.

Asked whether a collapse similar to the one in Spain could happen in Bulgaria, Videv was adamant that the danger is small thanks to the stable interconnections and synchronization with the European power grid.

Videv also drew attention to so-called "balcony plants" - small solar installations that are increasingly penetrating Western Europe. They can save up to 20% on household bills and are relatively affordable. However, supply in this country remains limited, mainly due to a lack of sufficient stock and priority buying from Western markets.

"In Bulgaria, these systems have yet to enter the market, but the potential is huge - every household can benefit from them," he said.

As for the future of energy, he stressed the need for an energy mix that includes both renewable and conventional energy sources. "Sooner or later coal will become a thing of the past - not only because it is polluting, but also because it is a finite resource. The future lies in the combination of solar, wind, hydro and small nuclear reactors," said Videv.