Study: Bulgarians Want Investments in Renewable Energy, Not Fossil Fuels

Bulgaria should prioritize investment in renewable energy. This is indicated by data from a survey of public attitudes and government policies in the energy sector in our country, announced the press center of "Greenpeace" - Bulgaria.

The study was conducted by the Policy Solutions center in partnership with the IPSOS sociological agency for "Greenpeace" - Bulgaria between November 27 and December 4, 2025, among 1000 respondents through an online survey.

According to 32% of the participants in the survey, Bulgaria should prioritize investments in renewable energy, and 25% mentioned energy efficiency and energy saving. There is also strong support (65%) for the energy transition by 2035. The data shows that Bulgarians also approve of energy communities, with 78% of respondents approving the idea of the government encouraging the creation of such cooperatives.

"Unfortunately, public attitudes rarely coincide with the decisions of those in power," commented Meglena Antonova, director of "Greenpeace" - Bulgaria.

According to her, energy communities and household solar panels in our country are being implemented on the citizens' own initiative, and not thanks to government policy. She believes that the environment in Bulgaria is not hospitable to these civil initiatives in the energy sector.

The organization also points out that attitudes towards fossil fuel projects are extremely negative - only 4% of those surveyed would prefer investments in oil and gas, and 2% - investments in coal. Only support for nuclear energy remains high - 31%, despite the risks and high investment costs, say "Greenpeace" - Bulgaria.

According to 64% of respondents, the use of fossil fuels exacerbates extreme meteorological phenomena, and 61% go further, wanting fossil fuel companies to be held accountable for damage to nature and the climate.

The environmental organization comments that the results diverge from government policy. They give an example of the decision for the "Bulgarian Energy Holding" (BEH) to participate in oil and gas extraction projects in the "Khan Asparuh" block in the Black Sea.

An agreement for the state's participation through BEH in the exploration of oil and natural gas in the "Khan Asparuh" block in the Black Sea was signed on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers in the presence of the outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and the outgoing Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov.