A BulgarianGreek joint venture has announced plans for the construction of a 500MW wind park in Bulgaria`s Gulyantsi municipality, on the Danube.

The investment project was submitted by the GP Energy company for approval to the local authorities last week. The project will also have to be reviewed by the regional environment and waters directorate based in Pleven.

The 2.0 ha park will consist of 25 wind-powered generators deployed in the area of the Somovit and Dolni Vit villages and a further 35 generators installed near the villages of Gigen and Iskar, all in the Pleven region.

The electricity output will be sold to national power grid operator NEK at 9 euro cents/kWh without taxes.

Gulyantsi mayor Violin Ivanov said several companies have indicated their interest in harnessing the power of the wind in the area.

Three wind turbines are already in operation near Somovit. They were installed by Lovech-based company Velga which plans to add a few more turbines next year.

A Sofia-based company will build a second wind farm near Somovit, said Ivanov, withholding the name of the investor.

Yet another investor is in the process of acquiring private land plots in the Somovit area suitable for wind power generation.

Some 100 wind turbines have been installed across Bulgaria in the past two years. Over 90% of the facilities have been deployed by non-energy companies.