In connection with the publication "Rositsa Kirova (GERB) wants to raise fins like the Eiffel Tower near Kyustendil" Mediapool published the right of reply of the investor "Venti Group", which is solely owned by Rositsa Kirova, a GERB MP:
Bulgarian business has been presented more than once as an ecological invader. This keeps us in a vicious circle of stagnation in road construction and the development of green energy. Who benefits from renewable energy business ventures going to the wind?
A wind farm project in Osogovo has caused a stir even before the facts surrounding its construction were clear.
The project for 24 wind turbines in the Osogovo Mountains represents a significant opportunity for the Kyustendil municipality to develop sustainable energy sources while preserving the region's natural resources.
The planned change to the zoning plan affects only 22 decares of over 9,000 decares of land, which represents less than 0.25% of the total area.
Modern technologies and good practices from across Europe show that such projects can exist in harmony with nature and local communities while bringing significant economic and environmental benefits.
The land on which the wind farm is planned to be built has been privately owned for more than 10 years, and during this time access of tourists and nature lovers has never been restricted, which was entirely at the will of the owner.
It is important to note that of the total area of over 9000 acres, more than half are rock formations without vegetation, which means that the project does not affect arable agricultural land.
The project has been developed with particular attention to the protection of the natural environment in the area. Not a single tree is planned to be cut down for the purposes of building the wind farm.
The strength of the wind along the ridge of the Osogovo Mountain naturally determines both the sparse vegetation and the presence of animal species in this area. Visible evidence of this is that even the bushes in this area have fallen down from the constant strong wind.
For the needs of the park, a large-scale reconstruction of the networks of the Electricity System Operator (ESO), to which the park will be connected, will be carried out.
Let us recall that the existing networks in the region left thousands of households without electricity last winter due to their poor condition. In this regard, the investor will finance with its own funds the reconstruction of state facilities worth over 17 million leva, which serve the Kyustendil region.
The direct benefit for the local community from this improvement in infrastructure is undeniable. The wind farm is located kilometers from Kyustendil and other settlements. There is no basis for the claims that the facilities will have a direct impact on the residents of the region. At the same time, there are hundreds of examples of wind farms in the immediate vicinity of densely populated areas in Europe.
The approval for the development of an amendment to the General Development Plan of Kyustendil is only the initial step in a series of studies, consultations, EIA, environmental assessment, public discussions.
A wind farm on a mountain ridge has a different impact than offshore wind turbines, which are placed in marine spaces or on agricultural lands. In the case of the park in Osogovo, the existing ESO networks will be used (after reconstruction) without building new, previously non-existent routes. The only new connection will be the underground connection of the 24 wind generators themselves.
The substation for the park will be built on land that is currently designated for a similar electrical facility. And at the moment there is a substation there that has not been functioning for years.
At the investor's suggestion, the commitments for the activities for the benefit of the municipality and its residents will be included in a memorandum. The memorandum has already been discussed and has specific parameters. A month ago, a meeting was held between the experts working on the project and the municipal councilors. Every question raised was answered there.
Rositsa Kirova bought the land in 2014 from a public national auction, at which over 154,000 acres of land (agricultural, pastures and meadows) were sold. Before becoming a member of the 45th National Assembly, she was engaged in private business for 30 years.
She was repeatedly checked by all institutions until 2018 on all kinds of reports and signals, both for her personally and for the companies she manages. Result - no violations found.
Her brother filed a lawsuit against BYRD for defamation and slander, the decision of which is expected to be issued any moment. The allegations circulated by BYRD have been disputed as false and tarnishing his name, including that of Ms. Kirova.
The activities and actions of Rositsa Kirova as a public figure and politician are undeniable; unlike many politicians, she does not hide behind front persons and has always claimed that she is first a businesswoman, a public figure and finally a participant in the political life of the country.
Regarding the project, she is convinced that regions that rely heavily on wind energy are economically strong and energy independent.
In Denmark, over 50% of electricity comes from wind, in Germany 25 - 30%, in Spain - 20 - 23%. Don't they care about the birds, the vegetation and the soil there?
At the same time, in Bulgaria we are at the bottom with a 2.5-3% share of wind energy in the energy mix.
Do we want to be less dependent on fossil fuels and global price shocks?
The EU Green Deal and national plans require Bulgaria to quickly expand the share of renewable energy sources by 2030. This was also the meaning of the changes to the Renewable Energy Act, which implement the European Directive (EU) 2023/2413 in Bulgarian legislation. Bulgaria needs to catch up in this direction with rapid steps, which means opportunities for growth.
Myth 1: Wind farms affect large areas of land
According to the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the actual footprint of a wind turbine is typically around 1,000 square meters. The US Department of Energy states that powering 35% of the national electricity grid through wind turbines would require only 3,200 square kilometers of land, which is significantly less than the areas used for fossil fuel extraction.
Myth 2: Wind turbines are too noisy
At a distance of 300 meters, a wind turbine has a sound pressure level of 43 decibels. At 500 meters, this level drops to 38 decibels. In comparison, an air conditioner can reach 50 decibels, and most refrigerators operate at around 40 decibels.
Myth 3: Wind farms endanger birds and wildlife
There are effective measures to reduce bird collisions with wind turbines. Painting the rotor blades black significantly increases their visibility. This leads to a 71.9% reduction in the number of dead birds found around treated turbines. Another method is to temporarily stop wind turbines when birds are observed nearby. This can reduce mortality by 50% while reducing energy production by just 0.07%.
Bulgaria already has successful experience with the construction and operation of a wind farm in a mountainous environment. "Buzludzha - Vetrokom", located on the ridge of the Stara Planina Mountains, east of Buzludzha Peak, includes 20 wind turbines with a total capacity of 50 MW, located at an altitude of about 1490 meters.
Each of the generators is 85 meters high and the rotor diameter is 80 meters. The investor in the project was the Swiss concern "Alpic" through its subsidiary company "Vetrokom" EOOD, with an investment of about 80 million euros. The park was put into operation in 2010 and was subsequently expanded with an additional 9 wind generators, reaching a total capacity of 72.5 MW.
The park generates an average of 135 gigawatt hours of electricity per year, which is a significant contribution to the Bulgarian energy system from renewable sources. It has been operating for more than 14 years without serious negative consequences for the environment. Moreover, the Buzludzha region continues to attract tourists, which shows that wind turbines can coexist in harmony with tourism activities in the area.
Handalm Wind Farm, Austria
In 2017, the Handalm Wind Farm was opened in the mountains of southern Austria, consisting of 13 wind turbines located at an average altitude of 1,800 meters. This farm produces around 76 megawatt hours of electricity per year, enough for 21,000 households, saving 46,000 tons of CO2 per year. The project demonstrates the applicability of the technologies for larger wind farms in the specific wind and terrain conditions of mountainous regions.
The Handalm Wind Farm is supported by a European grant of €11.3 million, with a total investment in the project amounting to €58 million. The park showcases a number of innovative technologies specifically designed for high-altitude conditions, and proves that such projects can be successfully implemented even in difficult terrain.
Wind turbines in Gries, Switzerland
In Switzerland, on the Corno Pass, there are some of the highest wind turbines in Europe. These large-scale facilities are located in close proximity to Lake Gries and the Gries Glacier, creating an impressive view that attracts tourists. This example also shows how wind turbines can exist in harmony with nature and even become a tourist attraction.
In Scotland, tourists can mountain bike and hike around an onshore wind farm, while in Denmark they can even climb a wind turbine. In the UK, there is the opportunity to sail right under the blades of a turbine. These examples show that wind farms can become a tourist attraction and contribute to the local economy.
And again for the "Osogovo" wind farm
The project for 24 wind turbines in the Osogovo Mountain represents a significant opportunity for sustainable development, clean energy production and economic benefits for the municipality of Kyustendil.
The planned amendment to the development plan affects a minimal part of the territory and, as shown by numerous successful examples from Europe and Bulgaria, can be implemented with minimal impact on the environment and without endangering the national security or defense of the country.
Source: mediapool.bg