04.01.2024

THE BULGARIAN-ROMANIAN PROJECT "CARMEN 2"

The EC included the joint project "Carmen 2" between the Bulgarian Electricity System Operator (ESO) and the Romanian transmission operator "Transelectrica", as well as the distribution company "Delgaz Grid" (Delgaz Grid S.A.) in the sixth list of projects of common European interest.

The project is aimed at digitization and expansion of the electricity transmission network of Bulgaria and Romania in order to modernize and increase its transmission capacity to connect the newly constructed RES capacities.

ESO specifies that the "Carmen 2" project envisages the implementation of investments by 2030 aimed at improving the stability of the network and increasing its capacity, achieving cost efficiency for electricity distribution, implementing consumption management mechanisms, optimizing work of the power system.

The implementation of the "Carmen 2" project will promote cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania and the neighboring countries Hungary, Moldova and Ukraine.

Within the framework of the project, the Electricity System Operator of Bulgaria will implement investments in the amount of nearly BGN 1 billion to modernize the electricity transmission network and increase its capacity in North-Eastern Bulgaria in order to utilize the high potential for the production of renewable electricity of over 8,000 megawatts , including in the form of green hydrogen.

ESO plans the construction of new fully digitized 400/110 kV (kilovolt) substations, reconstruction and modernization of existing substations and increasing their capacity, through transformation from voltage level 220/110kV to 400/110 kV. The electricity transmission operator of Bulgaria also plans the construction of 222 km of new digitized 400 kV power lines.

The measures to strengthen and modernize the electricity transmission network will be directed mainly in the region of North-Eastern Bulgaria in order to increase its capacity and utilize the wind potential for the production of green electricity, as well as to ensure the transmission of renewable electricity along the priority North-South cross-border corridor.

The planned development and digitization of the electricity system is dictated both by the massive deployment of new RES capacities and by the expected development of electric and hydrogen charging infrastructure throughout Bulgaria in response to the goals of transition to emission-free transport.

The announcement of the EC's sixth priority list of projects of common European interest coincided with the 4th edition of the exhibition of projects for the development of the European energy infrastructure, which is traditionally held in Brussels, the ESO added.

The electricity system operator responded to the invitation of the European Executive Agency for Climate Infrastructure and the Environment and participated with a special stand and a film telling about the successful implementation of the five projects of common European interest already implemented by ESO. Within the framework of the exhibition, the electricity transmission operator of Bulgaria shared its experience gained over the past five years in the construction of 450 kilometers of new 400 kV power lines.

The ESA's implementation of the five projects was identified as key to strengthening the EU's energy infrastructure and cited as a successful example of achieving Europe's climate neutrality targets by 2030.

This is the reason for the invitation to ESO to present the realized projects at the 4th exhibition of projects of common European interest in Brussels and share the company's achievements in the construction of a sustainable cross-border energy infrastructure.

Over the past five years, with the help of European co-financing, the Electricity System Operator of Bulgaria has built 4 internal power lines and the Bulgarian section of the intersystem power line between the Maritsa Iztok substation in our country and the Nea Santa substation in Greece.

The implementation by ESO of the projects of common European interest with a total value of nearly BGN 1 billion improve the security and flexibility of the electricity transmission network, ensure the integration of electricity produced from renewable sources, and increase the transmission capacities at our borders with Romania and Greece.