The second day of the XVI National Annual Conference of the Association of Bulgarian Energy Agencies (ABEA) also concluded with productive topics and discussions. The final day of the conference was dedicated to the theme “The Energy Transition and Energy Poverty – New Challenges.”
The programme was structured around two thematic panels:
- Legislative aspects of the development of energy communities in Bulgaria and good practices in the EU (Panel III)
- Solutions to address energy poverty (Panel IV)
Panel III featured experts from EnEffect, SOFENA, the Energy Transition Commission to the National Council for Economic Growth, the Black Sea Energy Research Centre, Greenpeace, and VISIAW. Discussions focused on the challenges facing the development of energy communities in Bulgaria. It was noted that Bulgaria is still lagging behind in establishing energy communities and in adopting legislation regulating their functioning. Good practices from across the European Union were also presented.
It was emphasised that energy communities are a cornerstone of the decentralisation of the energy system, as they enable citizens to freely produce and sell their own energy. Participants highlighted that these communities are not established for profit generation and will operate as non-commercial actors in the energy market. Participation in energy communities is voluntary and open, and they are primarily intended for small businesses, private individuals, local authorities, and municipalities.
A key conclusion from the discussion – held among speakers and representatives of public authorities, professional organisations, energy experts, and municipalities – was the need for legislative changes in Bulgaria to support energy communities, which would regulate their establishment and development.
The final conference panel presented possible solutions to address energy poverty. Experts from the Sofia Energy Centre, SOFENA, the Black Sea Energy Research Centre, and the Centre for Sustainability and Economic Development – Pazardzhik took part. The EU Energy Poverty Advisory Hub initiative was introduced, along with national roadmaps for tackling energy poverty under the POWERPOOR project, as well as information on how to apply for technical assistance from the EU Energy Poverty Advisory Hub.
The concluding presentations were delivered by representatives of the Black Sea Energy Research Centre, who addressed the topics “Programmes and Initiatives for the Decarbonisation of Household Heating and Cooling” and “Residential Heating – a Calculator for Comparing Heating Systems and Results from Assessments of Energy-Poor Households.” Attention was drawn to the often-overlooked role of household heating, which represents a significant share of energy consumption. The purpose of the heating system comparison calculator was also presented as an accessible and independent energy advisory tool for residential buildings.
The two-day forum, held in a hybrid format, concluded with strong interest from representatives of ministries, state institutions, embassies, industry organisations, energy agencies and centres, academia, municipalities, experts, and companies. The event clearly demonstrated the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources for both industrial and non-industrial consumers, while also announcing valuable and timely updates for the sector.