en.Wedoany.com Reported - Acting Bulgarian Energy Minister Traycho Traykov recently revealed that the country has identified ten locations suitable for constructing pumped storage power plants, including projects such as Dospat, Batak, and Chaira 2.
Meanwhile, progress has been made in the repair of the Chaira pumped storage power plant, the largest in the Balkan region. The plant has been out of operation since mid-2022 due to a malfunction, with Unit 2 resuming operation by the end of 2024 and Unit 3 recently completing repairs. During his visit to the facility, Traykov stated that Unit 1 is planned to be restored to operation in 2028, and public procurement documents for Unit 4 are currently being prepared.
Traykov emphasized, "Equipment delivery will be conducted separately from construction and installation work." This adjustment stems from multiple failed attempts at public tenders, and negotiations are currently underway with the original equipment manufacturer, Toshiba. The Chaira plant is part of the Belmeken-Sestrimo-Chaira hydropower complex, operated by the state-owned NEK, with a rated pumping capacity of 784 MW and a generating capacity of 864 MW.
The European Union has listed several Bulgarian pumped storage projects as financing priorities, with NEK making significant progress in document preparation. Among them, the Yadenitsa project, valued at €250 million, plans to connect the planned dam to the Chaira plant via a tunnel, tripling the reservoir's capacity. It has been included in the EU's list of Projects of Common Interest.
Bulgaria currently has three pumped storage power plants: besides Chaira, they include Belmeken and Orphey. NEK repaired the Belmeken plant two years ago, which has a generating capacity of 373.5 MW. The Orphey system, located at the Vacha Dam, has a total capacity slightly below 164.8 MW. Additionally, a new facility with a capacity of approximately 800 MW is planned near Ravnogor.
NEK and energy policymakers prioritize energy storage, and the battery energy storage market is also expanding rapidly. These pumped storage power plants and projects are all located in the Rhodope Mountains in the south, contributing to enhanced grid flexibility and renewable energy integration.
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