The Bulgarian Electricity System Operator (ESO) plans to implement a project to modernise and expand its grid. The project is worth 760 million euros, the company told SeeNews.

The project, named “Sustainable adaptation of the national electricity grid—Greenabler,” will be implemented by 2030.

Greenabler aims to upgrade the grid to a higher voltage level, specifically 400 kV, up from the current 220 kV. This upgrade will increase transmission capacity and bolster internal connectivity, enabling the integration of additional renewable energy sources in the future.

By the end of 2023, 300 MW of new renewable generation capacity is expected to be connected to the grid, ESO said. The grid operator has signed both preliminary and final contracts for the integration of 11,700 MW of new renewable capacity. In addition, preliminary contracts have been established for the inclusion of an extra 7,000 MW of renewables into the high-voltage grid.

ESO’s investment proposal, which was published in September, includes the reconstruction and conversion to 400 kV voltage of 12 existing power lines with a total length of 965.65 kilometres, along with associated substations. The investment will require an environmental impact assessment. The power lines are located in the regions of Pleven, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Sliven, Plovdiv, Ruse, Shumen, Gabrovo, and Pazardzhik, according to information published on ESO’s website.