Excess energy from photovoltaic parks can be overcome through effective energy storage solutions, said Ivan Zhelyazkov, member of the Governing Council of the Scientific and Technical Union of Energy Engineers in Bulgaria, in an interview with BTA. He has commented on the surplus of energy that occurs on sunny days, which leads to negative electricity prices on the stock exchange.

He argued that lithium-ion batteries could store that excess energy for later use. This will not only stabilize the electricity system, but also prevent negative prices in the stock market, providing an opportunity to use stored energy in times of shortages.

"Bulgaria has experience in the production of lead-acid batteries and the potential for development. However, the global trend is moving towards lithium-ion and other more innovative energy storage technologies. We can use our potential in lead-acid batteries for applications specific, but the strategic focus should be on the most advanced and efficient technologies", the expert told BTA.

He noted that smart management of battery systems and networks is the future of the energy sector. The integration of energy storage battery systems in Bulgaria may actually happen in the next two to three years. Currently, the average price of a battery is around 200-300 euros per KWh. However, building a reliable infrastructure with a battery system will become possible only after legislative changes, Zhelyazkov underlined. Batteries are not currently regulated by Bulgarian law, he specified. The next step after the legislative changes is to reduce the administrative burden.