The evaluation of the first energy efficiency projects for housing in the three most affected coal regions - Pernik, Kyustendil and Stara Zagora has started
The evaluation of the first energy efficiency projects for housing in the three most affected coal regions - P
By Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works
Approved projects will be announced in early 2025.
A total of 329 project proposals from the 3 coal regions - Stara Zagora, Pernik and Kyustendil, have been submitted in the ISMM system under the procedure for support of energy efficiency measures for multi-family residential buildings under Priority 4 “Just Transition” of the Development of Regions Programme 2021-2027 (DRP). The proposals received are from 24 municipalities in the most affected coal regions. Their total value is almost BGN 455.4 million, which exceeds about 2 times the budget of the procedure - BGN 196.4 million.
The activities in the project proposals must be consistent with the priorities included in the approved Just Transition Area Plans for the three counties. Their implementation is expected to reduce household electricity consumption and bills, reduce carbon emissions through the deployment of renewable energy sources, heating and air conditioning installations, and reduce fuel poverty for the most vulnerable energy users. Once the energy saving measures are implemented, multi-family residential buildings in the three regions should achieve an energy consumption class of “B” or higher and support the transition to climate neutrality in these regions.
The evaluation of the proposals received will take place in two stages - starting with a check of administrative compliance and eligibility, followed by a technical and financial assessment, and to be completed in January 2025.
In addition to the current procedure under Priority 4 of the DRP 2021-2027, the Managing Authority of the Programme plans to announce the following measures by the end of 2024: for skills upgrading and retraining, for skills mapping of the affected workers in the coal mining and fossil power generation sectors; for supporting the diversification and adaptation of firms (small and medium-sized enterprises) in the three regions to the economic transition and for supporting industrial and logistics parks and zones in them.
The planned additional investments within the DRP 2021-2027 related to the transition to green energy and environmental protection in the districts of Stara Zagora, Pernik and Kyustendil amount to BGN 2.7 billion provided under the Fair Transition Fund.
