Stifled Decarbonisation: Assessing the Bulgarian National Energy and Climate Plan

The current report analyses the draft Bulgarian National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and pinpoints the main obstacles for the implementation of decarbonisation policies in the electricity sector. The main goal of the analysis is to present possible ideas and solutions for improving the NECP and for the more effective adaptation of the EU energy policies in Bulgaria. The assessment evaluates whether the NECP is consistent with the ambitious European goals in energy transition, and whether it has overcome some of the most common decarbonisation myths in Southeastern Europe. The focus is on the governance framework and the action plan for achieving the decarbonisation targets. The assessment reveals how the NECP development process reflects the common energy sector governance deficits in Bulgaria, including the lack of political consistency, the limited transparency of decision-making and the lack of adequate cost/benefit analyses of long-term strategic decisions. The report recommends the implementation of a series of measures for the transformation of the electricity sector towards lower dependence on fossil fuels, the more ambitious integration of renewables-based power plants, as well as the effective inclusion of consumers in the functioning of the Bulgarian energy system