Prof. Valentin Kolev, energy expert and dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at TU-Sofia, "In Development", 04.01.2022. Nuclear energy is an energy source that provides base loads to any energy system, which determines the security and reliability of supply, and it is especially necessary for Bulgaria. Natural gas should also be recognized as "green" energy, even though CO2 is released during the operation of gas installations. This was stated by Prof. Valentin Kolev, energy expert and dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at TU-Sofia, on the air of the show "In Development" hosted by Veronika Denizova. High prices on global energy markets were a key factor in the European Commission's decision to include some nuclear and gas projects in its green taxonomy, Kolev commented. "Ensuring a carbon-free energy sector in the EU is very difficult - the energy system cannot rely solely on renewable energy sources (RES). They cannot provide static and dynamic stability to the system, nor regulate it." In a comment on public concerns about nuclear energy, Kolev stated that they stem from the accidents at the Chernobyl and Fukushima NPPs, but in the coming years, safety measures will be strengthened, as well as measures for the storage of nuclear fuel waste. Asked about Germany's exit from nuclear energy, Kolev recalled the problems in the country's energy system due to the lack of wind for RES in the second half of 2021. "I cannot imagine that it is possible for the energy balance of a participant in the synchronous zone of continental Europe to ensure the reliability of electricity supply from RES without base loads and without the inertial masses in the turbines of traditional nuclear and coal power plants," said Kolev. These inertial masses cannot be replaced by RES, he added. "The presence of a higher percentage of RES in an electrical energy system creates conditions for instability in case of static and dynamic changes in the system." According to Kolev, Germany is already working on devices that will provide such inertial masses, but he warned that the shutdown of German reactors could lead to the collapse of the electrical energy system, which would affect a much larger region of Europe. Asked about the proposed 30% increase in the price of natural gas by the CERC, Kolev stated that over the last twenty years, a solid regulatory framework for the pricing of energy supplies has been built, and he recalled that the CERC is obliged to ensure the necessary profit based on the costs of energy companies so that they can fulfill their licenses. If there are regulations that are incorrect or created in favor of companies, they should be changed, he added. The increase in gas prices could lead to an increase in thermal energy and electricity, and a shift of consumers from gas to electricity, which will burden the system, warned Kolev.
Watch the show here
Bloombergtv.bg, 04.01.2022
