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Bobov Dol power station (ТЕЦ Бобов Дол) is an operating power station of at least 630-megawatts (MW) in Golemo Selo, Kyustendil, Bulgaria with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Bobov Dol power station | Golemo Selo, Kyustendil, Bulgaria | 42.285818, 23.03283 (exact)[1] |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- 6A, 6B, Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5: 42.285818, 23.03283
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | CHP | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6A | Shelved[2] | fossil gas: natural gas[2] | 180[3][2][4] | gas turbine[2][4] | not found | –[5][6] |
| 6B | Pre-construction[2] | fossil gas: natural gas[2] | 40[3][2][4] | ICCC[2][4] | not found | 2025 (planned)[5][6] |
| Unit 1 | Operating | coal: subbituminous, bioenergy: agricultural waste (solids) | 210 | subcritical | – | 1973 |
| Unit 2 | Operating | coal: subbituminous, bioenergy: agricultural waste (solids) | 210 | subcritical | – | 1974 |
| Unit 3 | Operating | coal: subbituminous, bioenergy: agricultural waste (solids) | 210 | subcritical | – | 1975 |
| Unit 4 | Cancelled | coal: bituminous | 200 | subcritical | – | – |
| Unit 5 | Cancelled | coal: bituminous | 200 | subcritical | – | – |
CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| 6A | Konsorcium Energia MK AD [100%][7] | Stoket Ltd [64.0%]; Newbury Management Ltd [22.0%]; Cowlan Corporation Ltd [10.0%]; small shareholder(s) [4.0%] |
| 6B | Konsorcium Energia MK AD [100%][7] | Stoket Ltd [64.0%]; Newbury Management Ltd [22.0%]; Cowlan Corporation Ltd [10.0%]; small shareholder(s) [4.0%] |
| Unit 1 | Konsorcium Energia MK AD [100%][7] | Stoket Ltd [64.0%]; Newbury Management Ltd [22.0%]; Cowlan Corporation Ltd [10.0%]; small shareholder(s) [4.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Konsorcium Energia MK AD [100%][7] | Stoket Ltd [64.0%]; Newbury Management Ltd [22.0%]; Cowlan Corporation Ltd [10.0%]; small shareholder(s) [4.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Konsorcium Energia MK AD [100%][7] | Stoket Ltd [64.0%]; Newbury Management Ltd [22.0%]; Cowlan Corporation Ltd [10.0%]; small shareholder(s) [4.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Konsorcium Energia MK AD [100%][7] | Stoket Ltd [64.0%]; Newbury Management Ltd [22.0%]; Cowlan Corporation Ltd [10.0%]; small shareholder(s) [4.0%] |
| Unit 5 | Konsorcium Energia MK AD [100%][7] | Stoket Ltd [64.0%]; Newbury Management Ltd [22.0%]; Cowlan Corporation Ltd [10.0%]; small shareholder(s) [4.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Bobov Dol coal mines
Background
The plant is located near the Bobov Dol coal mines (Vagledobiv Bobov Dol Eood Coal Mines). It consists of 3 x 210 MW units, built from 1973-1975.[8]
It is understood that the plant has been burning biomass from straw as well as coal in the recent years.[9]
Sale and proposed new units
The National Electric Company put the power plant up for sale in 2008. Nicephorus Vangelov, owner of Bulgaria's Energia MK AD, acquired the power plant for the price of BGN 100M, and proposed to add 2 new turbines of 200 MW each to the 3 existing ones, for a total capacity of 1,030 MW.[10] Later it was said that the plant is linked to the businessman Hristo Kovachki[11], who is also associated with the Vagledobiv Bobov Dol Eood Coal Mines.
However, there has been no news of the proposed units since 2008, and they appear to have been cancelled.
Energy Transformation
In 2021 the company announced it would convert the plant to run on natural gas and hydrogen by 2025.[12] This included the commissioning of a new 180 MW gas-fired combined cycle turbine that is capable of burning up to 50% hydrogen as part of its mix of fuels.[13][9]
In February 2023, the ground was laid for the construction of a 100MW solar plant, located on a former coal dump.[14] It is envisaged that the solar plant will power electrolyzers that would produce green hydrogen.[9] There was also a plant to install a small biogas installation of 7MW later in 2023.[15]
The plant was due to connect to the country’s gas network in 2023, which will allow it to replace the fuel oil currently used for start-up operations with gas.[16]
The plan further included five gas co-generators with a total capacity of 42 MW, expected to be online by 2024.[16]
Controversies
It emerged in 2021 that the Bobov Dol power station and the Brikel power station, both associated with the businessman Hristo Kovachki, may have underreported carbon dioxide emissions for the past three years. The two plants together may have avoided paying the EU between 26.6 million and 32.2 million euros. Officials at both plants denied inaccurately reporting emissions.[11] Bobov Dol power station burnt subbituminous coal and lignite.[17]
At Bobov Dol power plant, pollution levels continued to breach EU regulations. The mayor of the nearby village of Golemo Selo, said air quality data recorded by Bulgaria’s Executive Environmental Agency (EEA) shows the plant’s sulphur dioxide emissions at times are nearly double EU limits.[11] A report by Greenpeace Bulgaria published this year found Bobov Dol had repeatedly breached emissions limits for sulphur dioxide and other pollutants, concluding it was seriously harming local air and water quality.[18] Workers said conditions inside the Bobov Dol plant are terrible and they fear for their safety, and miners in the coal mine that feeds it have reportedly staged protests over labour conditions in previous years.[11]
In February 2023, Bulgarian organised crime unit and the national security agency have raided the offices of coal-fired thermal power plants directly owned by or connected to controversial businessman Hristo Kovachki.[19]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ https://www.google.com/maps/place/42%C2%B017'09.0%22N+23%C2%B001'58.2%22E/@42.2853755,23.0320468,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x51c4294e16c2143e!8m2!3d42.28582!4d23.03283.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 https://web.archive.org/web/20220709012208/https://seenews.com/news/bulgarias-bobov-dol-coal-fired-power-plant-to-build-gas-link-by-end-2022-report-777497. Archived from the original on 09 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20230620120629/https://balkangreenenergynews.com/green-transformation-of-bulgarian-coal-power-plant-bobov-dol/. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 (PDF) https://bankwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024_03_14_The-great-energy-trap_An-evaluation-of-the-economic-viability-of-replacing-coal-with-gas-in-large-power-plants-in-Bulgaria.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://bankwatch.org/publication/the-great-energy-trap-an-evaluation-of-the-economic-viability-of-replacing-coal-with-gas-in-large-power-plants-in-bulgaria.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20221020135628/https://balkangreenenergynews.com/two-bulgarian-coal-power-plants-to-be-converted-to-natural-gas-hydrogen/. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 https://web.archive.org/web/20240124185219/https://dariknews-bg.translate.goog/regioni/kiustendil/dva-novi-bloka-v-tec-bobov-dol-planira-nikifor-vangelov.-toj-se-angazhira-da-pomaga-i-na-kyustendil-259157?_x_tr_sl=bg&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "TPP BOBOV DOL". tecbd.com/. unknown. Retrieved June 2023.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=and|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Green transformation of Bulgarian coal power plant Bobov Dol". balkangreenenergynews.com. September 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Nikifor Vangelov plans to build two new turbines in Bobov Dol," Darik News, June 4, 2008.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "Bulgarian Coal Magnate's Plants May Have Saved Around 30M Euros by Under-Declaring Emissions". www.occrp.org. July 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Two Bulgarian coal power plants to be converted to natural gas, hydrogen, Balkan Green Energy News, Jun 4, 2021
- ↑ Kokalova, Antonia (Mar 17th, 2022). "Bulgarias Bobov Dol Coal Fired Power Plant to Build Gas Link by End of 2022". SeeNews. Retrieved Jun 1st, 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=and|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "В ТЕЦ Бобов Дол направиха първа копка на огромен фотоволтаичен парк". /business.dir.bg. February 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Bulgarian coal-fired power station breaks ground on 100-MW solar park". renewablesnow.com/. February 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Green transformation of Bulgarian coal power plant Bobov Dol". balkangreenenergynews.com. September 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Bulgarian police raid coal-fired power plants in EPPO fraud probe". www.intellinews.com. February 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Alarming report on water and air pollution around a coal power plant in Bulgaria". greenpeace.at. March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Bulgarian police raid coal-fired power plants in EPPO fraud probe". www.intellinews.com. February 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Additional data
To access additional data, including interactive maps of the power stations, downloadable datasets, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker and the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
