Bulgarian companies in the energy sector have enormous potential for development and growth, especially in the field of renewable sources and innovations. This was stated in an interview with BTA by the Chairman of the Management Board (MB) of the Bulgarian Association of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (BASEL), Dr. Eng. Dimitar Beleliev. According to him, with each passing year, more and more companies are seen implementing modern technologies and offering solutions that are competitive at the global level. According to him, Bulgaria can be a leader in the development of renewable energy and energy management technologies.
“Companies in the industry are active on both the local and international markets, and their role will continue to grow as global interest in sustainable energy sources increases,” added Beleliev. He gave as an example that the International Technical Fair in Plovdiv, which took place from September 25 to 28, proved this.
This year, 25 proposals competed at the exhibition for the Innovation Medal. Of these, 18 received a gold medal and a diploma for an innovative product, said the Chairman of the BASEL Board of Directors. Many of the products awarded at the Technical Fair are produced in the Balkans and in European countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Republic of North Macedonia, and Turkey. Only one of all the awarded companies is not Bulgarian, it is from the Czech Republic, all the others are from Bulgaria, Beleliev pointed out.
An increasing share of the awarded Bulgarian companies produce the product itself, they are not only exhibitors at the International Technical Fair, but also manufacturers, the Chairman of BASEL noted. He gave as an example that such companies are “Elia”, “AmonRa Energy”, Institute for Space Technologies and Research, “Sea Vending Spot”, “Future House” and others. “This is an encouraging trend. Bulgarian business is betting on its own rational solutions to implement on the market,” noted Dimitar Beleliev.
The Chairman of the BASEL Board of Directors added that various machines, technologies, and digital developments for process control and management were honored.
“The innovations presented at the International Technical Fair reflect the trend towards resource saving, ecology (a modular low-energy house, for example, received a gold medal, as well as an Eco vending spot with its own power supply and a point for recycled waste), and safety in emergency situations. Products with seismic protection stood out – for example, the transformer house is an innovation with seismic protection, as well as the simulator for training behavioral reactions to an earthquake of the Institute for Space Research and Technology. Products with mobile capabilities were also awarded as unique products, for example, a mobile pallet strapping system and a mobile solar system with 24 panels, which can be transported wherever power supply is needed,” explained Dimitar Beleliev.
When asked if there was Bulgarian companies that participate for the first time as exhibitors at the Technical Fair and win a medal for innovation, Beleliev replied that such are “AmonRa Energy” and “Elia”, which won gold medals. According to the Chairman of BASEL, these awards are a great recognition of the innovations and technological development of the Bulgarian industry.
“The success of AmonRa Energy and Elia shows that Bulgarian companies not only follow global trends, but also offer innovative solutions that can be applied both in Bulgaria and on the international market. This is proof of the potential of Bulgarian business in the field of renewable energy and infrastructure technologies,” explained Beleliev.
The BASEL Chairman pointed out that the mobile solar system developed by AmonRa Energy combines flexibility and autonomy. This system is extremely useful in situations where access to the electricity grid is limited or absent. The main advantages are its quick deployment, ease of transportation and its ability to provide clean energy wherever it is needed. In addition, mobile solar systems have enormous potential in agriculture. They can provide energy for irrigation systems, farm machinery and other facilities located in remote areas where access to the electricity grid is difficult. This mobility allows farmers to use the system where it is needed, he added.
According to Beleliev, such systems will find wide application in various industries, not only in agriculture. He pointed out that there is great interest both locally and internationally. “AmonRa Energy is working on the commercialization of this innovation and I expect that in the near future these mobile systems will become available to a wider range of users,” he said.
Regarding the seismically qualified transformer house of Elia, Beleliev explained that this is a product created according to the specific requirements for nuclear power plants, in particular the Kozloduy NPP. According to the current regulatory documents, it meets the requirements of the IInd category for seismic resistance. The product was qualified in a certified seismic laboratory. The house is intended for indoor installation and is designed for Siemens dry transformers, but can also be used for other transformers with similar dimensions and heat losses. It does not allow access to the current-carrying parts of the transformer. The doors have locks that prevent them from being opened when the transformer is under voltage. It also ensures normal operation of the transformer at nominal parameters, without the need for additional cooling. Although its main purpose is for installation in places with increased seismic resistance requirements, the Elia transformer house is also suitable for other sites where reliable protection of electrical equipment is needed, Beleliev explained. He added that this makes it suitable for strategic sites such as hospitals, telecommunications centers and industrial plants, where safety and sustainability are of paramount importance.
