We spoke with Associate Professor Stanimir Stefanov from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Technical University (TU) Sofia, Plovdiv branch. He has been involved in the installation of a solar PV system designed to enhance student training in renewable energy and reduce the university's carbon footprint. 

The initiative, made possible through the collaboration with energy company ENERGY and the easing of regulatory requirements for small-scale solar projects in Bulgaria, is part of a broader effort to green the university's electricity consumption. 
 

The system, with a capacity of 20 kWp, was installed on the southern roof of TU Sofia's 4th academic building in central Plovdiv. It consists of three single-phase systems and a total of 47 solar panels.  
 

“The energy produced is solely for the needs of the building,” Professor Stefanov explains. The installation, which was put into operation in 2023, is expected to generate 25-30 MWh of electricity annually. “This would allow us to cover about 10% of our electricity needs,” he adds. 
 

In terms of direct benefits, Professor Stefanov emphasised the noticeable reduction in electricity costs for the university. However, to encourage similar projects at other academic institutions, he calls for “targeted policies, including financial programmes that universities can access to fund solar PV plants.” He also stresses the importance of further easing regulatory restrictions to make the adoption of solar energy more accessible. 
 

As Bulgaria continues to embrace solar energy by tripling its installed solar capacity in about three years (EU Market Outlook for Solar Power 2023-2027), TU Sofia's efforts highlight the potential for solar energy in transforming the academic sector, one solar panel at a time.