Bulgaria Is One of Europe's Top Five Countries for Geothermal Potential, but This Resource Is Still Largely Untapped
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Interview: Eng. Nikola Sechkaryov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Association Geothermal Energy (BAGE), at the Money.bg Studio
Bulgaria Has Significant Geothermal Potential, Yet This Resource Remains Largely Untapped
Bulgaria possesses substantial geothermal potential, yet this resource remains largely untapped due to limited public awareness, the absence of a consistent national policy, and the lack of a clear regulatory framework. This was stated by Eng. Nikola Sechkaryov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Association Geothermal Energy (BAGE), during an interview in the Money.bg studio.
According to him, public understanding of geothermal energy remains very limited and is often associated exclusively with mineral springs.
"The topic is still not sufficiently recognized by the public. There is a widespread misconception that geothermal energy simply means hot mineral springs. In reality, mineral springs are only an indication of an active geothermal system. Geothermal energy is the Earth's natural heat, while mineral waters are heated by this geothermal heat. This misunderstanding is one of the reasons why geothermal energy remains outside the public spotlight."
He emphasized that the development of the sector cannot rely solely on the efforts of industry professionals.
"Our primary objective as an association is to promote and encourage the development of geothermal energy, but this cannot be BAGE's mission alone. It must become a national priority supported by government policy."
He noted that while a comprehensive geothermal policy is already taking shape at the European level, Bulgaria still lags behind despite the positive legislative progress achieved in recent years.
Geothermal Energy as Baseload Power
According to the Chairman of BAGE, the defining advantage of geothermal energy over other renewable energy sources is its ability to provide continuous power.
"Geothermal energy is a baseload energy source. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of weather conditions. I do not underestimate the importance of solar or wind energy, but the key difference lies in reliability and continuity. In terms of capacity factor, geothermal energy reaches approximately 90–95%, which is even higher than that of nuclear power."
He explained that this predictability enables geothermal energy to complement intermittent renewable sources and contribute to the stability of the electricity system.
A Changing Legislative Framework
Sechkaryov recalled that until approximately five years ago, Bulgaria had virtually no legislation regulating the utilization of geothermal resources.
"The general legal framework has now been established. The fundamental rules governing both exploration and the utilization of shallow and deep geothermal energy have been introduced. However, a considerable amount of work remains at the secondary legislative level."
Among the remaining challenges, he highlighted the absence of unified technical standards for the construction of geothermal boreholes.
"Constructing geothermal boreholes is far more complex than simply drilling a hole and installing pipes. It is essential to ensure that groundwater aquifers remain protected from contamination, that geothermal systems operate efficiently, and that there is proper oversight regarding the number of boreholes and the geothermal resources being utilized. These are exactly the procedures we are currently developing, and we expect to submit them for public consultation in the near future."
Bulgaria Among Europe's Leaders in Geothermal Potential
Sechkaryov expressed confidence that Bulgaria ranks among Europe's leading countries in terms of geothermal resources.
"I would place Bulgaria among the top five countries in Europe for geothermal potential. We have excellent underground temperature conditions and highly favorable geological characteristics. Contrary to the claims of some critics, Bulgaria possesses tremendous potential for both shallow and deep geothermal energy."
He stressed, however, that this exceptional potential remains largely untapped.
According to him, unlocking this resource requires the government to recognize geothermal energy as a strategic priority and support its development rather than hinder it through unnecessarily burdensome administrative procedures.
Applications Across the Economy
According to the Chairman of BAGE, geothermal energy has the potential to serve virtually every sector of the economy.
"The greatest potential lies in single-family and multi-family residential buildings. Beyond that, schools, kindergartens, administrative buildings, and sports facilities all represent excellent opportunities. Industry also offers significant potential—from logistics centers and manufacturing facilities to agriculture. Greenhouse heating, in particular, represents one of the most promising applications."
For large-scale geothermal developments, he believes that public-private partnerships will play a crucial role, as exploration activities and project implementation require substantial investment and typically take between two and seven years to complete.
🎥 Watch the full interview in the video below.
