24.02.2025 Delyana Ivanova: Programme of the Bulgarian Development Bank and ESO enables energy independence of public consumers
Small and medium-sized enterprises will also be able to benefit from it
The Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) and the Electricity System Operator (ESO) are developing a program that will help public consumers to be energy independent and reduce their electricity costs. This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Bulgarian Development Bank Delyana Ivanova in the show "The Day Begins" on BNT.
The joint program of the Bulgarian Development Bank and ESO for accelerated deployment of renewable energy by public entities is in line with the bank's new strategy to support the state in key policies.
The bank's deputy chairman explained that the initial cost of setting up the power generation and storage systems would not be on the account of the users. The mechanism will enable hospitals, schools, kindergartens, municipalities and others to significantly optimize the electricity bills they pay.
The program allows the price of electricity to be fixed for up to 10 years, and calculations show that it will be lower than the current one, paid by the public users.
Small and medium enterprises, which are the focus of the Bank's activities, can also apply for this mechanism. It will increase their competitiveness. Delyana Ivanova explained that for each project an energy and technical audit will be carried out to study the needs and optimal capabilities of the buildings for the construction of electricity generation and storage systems.
"The BDB takes the risk element in the construction and commissioning of the capacities. As a second stage of the mechanism, the bank has provided for the possibility of involving private investors, which will enable the repeated use of resources" the bank's deputy chairman added.
The Bulgarian Development Bank is also implementing a program for the construction of renewable energy sources for households, which facilitates their access to funds for replacing solid fuel energy sources (stove, boiler or fireplace) with renewable ones. The BDB's support is provided through a guarantee scheme to four commercial banks that lend to households for approved projects supported under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The BDB will also be a partner of the government in the second phase of the National Program for Energy Efficiency in Residential Buildings, which is currently being developed, Delyana Ivanova said. It is expected that its resources will be up to BGN 2.5 billion and the activities will be 100% at the expense of the state.
