Scientific methodology and mathematical models for planning the development of the national energy sector

Bulgarian energy sector faces numerous challenges: high energy intensity of gross national product; strong dependence of energy supplies on a single supplier; insufficiently aligned with national interests processes of structural economic reforms that do not adequately account for the complex interactions of energy – economy – technology – environment – society – security – climate – globalization – Internet of Things; significant share of the shadow economy; sufficient availability of local but highly polluting lignite energy sources; limited water resources; sufficient solar and wind primary energy, a large share of which is utilized at long-term determined "preferential" prices; low purchasing power of consumers and widespread energy poverty; high share of electricity consumption in final energy consumption; high share of electricity production through mandatory purchase; insufficiency of the regulating range of electricity generation capacities, etc. At the same time, for several years the world has been entering a "great transition" in the field of energy use, which is defined as the transition to a world with less population and labor force growth, radically new technologies, greater environmental protection obligations, and a shift of economic and geopolitical power to other countries/states. The goal of the developed project is fundamental research that will create the basis of a Methodology and toolkit (organization regulation, forces and means, including mathematical models and information exchanges) for strategic planning of the development of the energy sector, through which the listed challenges will be addressed. 

Link to the project website: https://energy-planning-bg.net/