DanuP-2-Gas National Workshop in Bulgaria was held on the 2nd of December 2022 as a hybrid event at hotel Central (Sofia) and online. More than 60 individual invitations were emailed to potential interested participants; the event was intensively promoted also in social networks and websites. The campaign generated a high interest and a great number of registrations, resulting in fine selection of guests.  

The workshop continued for almost six hours, giving opportunity for detailed discussions and a deep dive into the technicalities and business models of Power-to-Gas (P2G) technologies. After the short welcoming and introductory words, the participants were presented with the workshop’s main topics, i.e., the P2G concept and the opportunities for methanization of biogas, allowing its injection into the gas grid, Danube Energy Platform, Subsidies catalogue, Transnational RE Atlas, Optimization tool, Pre-feasibility study, existing legislative and administrative barriers to the construction of P2G hubs. Innovative synergies with other ongoing projects were demonstrated such as the H2020 FinEERGo-Dom under which the benefits from deep renovation of a pool of multifamily buildings can be combined with energy supply from P2G hubs.   

The topics sparked discussions among the onsite participants, which continued also during the coffee and lunch breaks. Expectedly, most discussions were related to the regulatory restrictions and conditions for implementation of real P2G projects in the country. There were questions about the practices of foreign companies owning and operating biogas plants as well. As a final note, the participants expressed their interest to have speakers representing the transmission systems operators, regulator, etc. during such events in the future.

P2G technologies are expected to gain popularity in Bulgaria due to the independence from natural gas supplies they provide, along with the unbearably high prices of that type of energy carrier. Considering the great number of financial instruments and EU subsidies that can be used to realize P2G investments, e.g., Bulgarian Resilience and Recovery Plan, it is a matter of making one more step before such production facilities start to operate in Bulgaria.