120 M. HAJDINJAK AND D. ASENoVA
These measures have resulted in a surge of wind and solar plants being
constructed (almost 90% of all RES generation capacity was installed in
2010–2012), but the majority of them are owned by a handful of suppliers, who often benefit from access to favourable processing and procedural conditions. As a result, these developments did not contribute
to decentralisation of electricity production. Another consequence of
this faulty process was a sharp increase in final user tariffs, which coincided with the peak of the economic recession, leading to a wide popular backlash against green energy. The feed-in tariff scheme was finally
suspended in 2015, but is yet to be replaced with a new state support
scheme. This contributed to the minimal uptake of RES sources since
2015 (Vladimirov et al. 2018).
Furthermore, administrative procedures for installation and exploitation of small PV capacities are among the most discouraging and burdensome in the EU, and not surprisingly, investments into new capacities
have been in a rapid decline (Vladimirov et al. 2018).
trenDs in househoLD energy Campaigns
in buLgaria
National energy campaigns are mainly focused on cutting down household energy consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and
promoting green transport. They are organised by a range of actors
including government, municipalities, NGos, local communities, and
businesses. Many are implemented as part of EU funded projects.
The largest initiative in terms of invested funds and involved households is the National Programme for Energy Efficiency of Residential
Buildings, which provides grants for renovation of multifamily residential
buildings, thus improving their energy efficiency. The programme targets over 2000 buildings in Bulgaria, which equals over 100,000 households (Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works 2015). The
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Sources Fund (EERSF) was established
in 2005 by the Bulgarian government to provide funding and technical
assistance for energy efficiency projects implemented by public (municipalities, universities, hospitals) and private sector (businesses and private
households). 3
3 See https://www.bgeef.com/en/.
These measures have resulted in a surge of wind and solar plants being
constructed (almost 90% of all RES generation capacity was installed in
2010–2012), but the majority of them are owned by a handful of suppliers, who often benefit from access to favourable processing and procedural conditions. As a result, these developments did not contribute
to decentralisation of electricity production. Another consequence of
this faulty process was a sharp increase in final user tariffs, which coincided with the peak of the economic recession, leading to a wide popular backlash against green energy. The feed-in tariff scheme was finally
suspended in 2015, but is yet to be replaced with a new state support
scheme. This contributed to the minimal uptake of RES sources since
2015 (Vladimirov et al. 2018).
Furthermore, administrative procedures for installation and exploitation of small PV capacities are among the most discouraging and burdensome in the EU, and not surprisingly, investments into new capacities
have been in a rapid decline (Vladimirov et al. 2018).
trenDs in househoLD energy Campaigns
in buLgaria
National energy campaigns are mainly focused on cutting down household energy consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and
promoting green transport. They are organised by a range of actors
including government, municipalities, NGos, local communities, and
businesses. Many are implemented as part of EU funded projects.
The largest initiative in terms of invested funds and involved households is the National Programme for Energy Efficiency of Residential
Buildings, which provides grants for renovation of multifamily residential
buildings, thus improving their energy efficiency. The programme targets over 2000 buildings in Bulgaria, which equals over 100,000 households (Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works 2015). The
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Sources Fund (EERSF) was established
in 2005 by the Bulgarian government to provide funding and technical
assistance for energy efficiency projects implemented by public (municipalities, universities, hospitals) and private sector (businesses and private
households). 3
3 See https://www.bgeef.com/en/.