The new Energy Security Programme under the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2021–2028 will provide 25 million euros in support for Bulgaria. The programme is operated by the Ministry of Energy in partnership with the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, with an additional 4.1 million euros in national co-financing.
The memorandum builds on Bulgaria’s partnership with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Under the new period, the country will receive a total of 132.8 million euros in financial support across three thematic priorities: the European green transition, democracy, rule of law and human rights, and social inclusion and sustainability.
Within this framework, support will go to renewable energy communities, strengthened energy security and interconnection in the Black Sea region, CO₂ capture and storage technologies, green energy solutions in public buildings, and the creation of an online platform for the National Decarbonisation Fund, and studies on pumped-storage hydropower will also be carried out.
In the previous period, under the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Energy Security programme, 24 Bulgarian municipalities modernised their street lighting; more than 20 public buildings were converted to near-zero energy consumption; and 17 industrial companies improved energy efficiency and upgraded production processes. Sustainable geothermal solutions were introduced in many kindergartens, nurseries and other municipal facilities, and more than 15 buildings implemented additional energy-efficiency measures.