An electricity corridor between Greece and Poland that would allow surplus solar energy from the Balkans to be transferred to north-west Europe and wind energy in the opposite direction is the new plan Berlin is championing.
Countries participating in the initiative are preparing to present it in the ENTSO-E project. Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece are working on an idea to boost electricity interconnections, which would contribute to grid stability and allow for the integration of more renewable energy sources .
The initiative for a green electricity corridor will be presented to the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) by October 16, the executive director of the Bulgarian Electricity System Operator (ESO) A. Chachev revealed.
Speaking at a conference in Sofia dedicated to onshore wind power, he said “the project will enable the transmission of solar energy from the south-east of the EU (where some areas have 1,700 to 1,800 hours of sunshine per year) to countries such as Poland and Germany that have 900 hours of sun,” added Chachev.
At the same time, wind farms in the northwest could send excess electricity to the other side of Europe.
Chachev also said that renewable energy sources in Bulgaria exceeded the energy produced by the nuclear power plant in Kozloduy, and in many cases electricity production this summer.
However, he pointed out that wind farms are necessary to balance the increase in solar power.
Over the past year and a half, more than 1.7 GW of renewables have been connected to the grid, and up to 300 MW more are expected by the end of the year, the ESO chief noted.
Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov said the country should work with Greece, Romania, the Western Balkans and Ukraine to develop the wind energy sector.
Greece aspires to become a transport hub with green electricity corridor projects
It is worth noting that the Greek side proposed a series of measures in March to the European Commission and the energy ministers to strengthen the connections between North and South.
Among them he included the Western Balkans in the plan, which also foresees the development of an investment mechanism. The Mitsotakis government also tabled an initiative for a green electricity corridor in Austria through the Western Balkans.
In addition, Greece is to be connected to Cyprus, Egypt and Israel through submarine cables and to upgrade its connections with Italy and Turkey.
The undersea connections will also allow electricity from renewable sources to be transported from Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula to Europe as well.
