From 20 to 21 June 2018 a national conference entitled “On the way to almost zero-energy buildings: challenges and opportunities” was held in the city of Bourgas. The event was from the official program of the Bulgarian EU Presidency. The event was organized by the Ministry of Energy with the financial support of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA), the Municipal Energy Efficiency Network EcoEnergy and the Vision for Science and Technology Growth Foundation.

A Program Agreement on the Financial Mechanism of the EEA for the implementation of the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Energy Security Program was signed at the conference. The funding provided under this program will finance activities related to energy efficiency, exploitation of renewable energy with particular reference to hydropower and geothermal energy. The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (EERSF) has already had successful experience in co-financing projects under this program over the past programming period. The aim of EERSF will also cover the needs of additional funding for projects that will be supported by the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Energy Security Program.

The conference was tasked with presenting the European experience in the construction of buildings with high energy characteristics and the opportunities for preparation and financing of municipal projects. The program included various thematic sessions with the participation of authoritative Bulgarian and international speakers and interactive formats that will contribute to the real exchange of ideas and opportunities for joint activities. The Executive Director of EERSF presented concrete examples of projects with funding from the Fund, which are close to the requirements for nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB). Experience shows that, with a modest increase of around 10%, renovation projects for buildings up to Class “A” can achieve the NZEB parameters.