OPPORTUNITIES FOR USING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN BULGARIA

Bulgaria has one of Europe’s richest renewable energy resource bases. This paper presents an assessment of Bulgarian renewable sources of energy as a stage for increasing the share of these resources in the country’s total energy balance, to the end of the improvement of the environment, stimulation of industrial development and creation of new jobs. It considers the theoretical (total) resource potential for solar, wind, both large and small hydro, geothermal, and biomass and waste sources. The paper presents the present status of renewable energy technologies and their installed capacities. The opportunities and constraints for development and use of renewable energy are considered.