The center was founded as a result of the "Tempus" educational project within "PHARE" programme. The duration of the project was three years; its beginning was at 1994. Executives of it were TU - Varna, ChTMU - Sofia, and TC of Bourgas; partners on the project were different universities, institutes, associations and enterprises from Germany, Greece, Denmark, and Sweden. Main contactor and co-ordinator of the project was The European Association for Solar Energy (EUROSOLAR). The basic goal of the project was the creation of an interuniversity center "Energy - Nature - Balkan" in the field of renewable energy sources, economy of energy, and protection of the surroundings of TU - Varna, with a branch at ChTMU - Sofia, and section at TC in Bourgas. So, the project gave assistance to the development and the introduction of curriculums, programme of studies, educational (training) materials (lectures, seminars, and laboratory exercises, practice, etc.) for different study modules for University education; specialization within the course of regular education and qualification courses on the level of post - graduate qualification. The final purpose of the project is to turn the Center into a regional one with educational, informational and consultative activities and transfers of technologies in the field of RES. In Bulgaria it has been formed a working group from seventeen Bulgarian lecturers from the three universities that have been divided into several branches: historical development of RES, solar energy, wind energy, biomass as a source of energy, utilization of the geothermal energy, electronic control of RES and application in the radiocommunication techniques. The working group, including university lecturers, experts in the field of RES, had took part in nine basic activities on :
- analysis of the situation for the integration of the surroundings preservation questions (contemporary energy policy, economy of energy, and use of RES in the system of technical college education in Bulgaria;
- an intensive introductory training course "Renewable energy. Technologies for life" at Folkcenter for Renewable Energy, Danmark;
- creation of the new training programmes for regular and distant education in the field of RES, in conformity with the reform in college education in Bulgaria;
- creation of modern study laboratory equipment for using RES for the inter - university center "Energy - Nature - Balkan" at TU - Varna, with a branch at ChTMU - Sofia, and section at TC in Bourgas;
- improving the qualification of the academic and administrative personnel staff;
- expanding the partnership with the economy through including in the project respective Bulgarian enterprises, firms, etc.
As a result of the project, for the first time, at the three universities in Bulgaria, is hold an education in the field of RES as independent study disciplines, and as separate training modules for the distinguished specialities at TU - Varna, ChTMU - Sofia, TC - Bourgas. This is possible thanks to the wise preparation of the study programmes. The opening ceremony of the Center took place on 9th of July, 1997 at Technical University of Varna. The Center is supplied with very good technique and contemporary laboratory equipment, that includes two systems for converting the solar energy into electricity with power 420W and 700W, hybrid system for converting of wind and solar energy with power 500W and 200W, solar modules with different power, measuring systems for definition of the parameters of the wind and sun, heat collectors, instalation for biogas 1m2, equipment for hydrogen production,Stirling motors. It has been created a computer class with multimedia with different simulation programmes, softwear products, etc. It has been collected numerous and various information material - textbooks, science materials, books, brochures, viodeomaterials, etc. in the field if RES. With the ending of the project and the creation of the center "Energy - Nature - Balkan" at TU - Varna, with a branch at ChTMU - Sofia, and section at TC in Bourgas, it has been established an excellent base for education, informational and scientific service in the field of RES, and energy economy. It is important that in the new educational plans of the speciality "Electrotechnika" for Bachelor and Master degrees is included a study module "Renewable Energy Sources". The education on those study plans has started at the beginning of academic 1997/98. As it was mentioned above one of the main activities on development and further exploitation of the center was the establishment of an excellent partnership with Folkecenter for Renewable Energy. The basic goal was the organizing of an useful intensive study course for university lecturers at Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, at EC in the area of RES, as well as to experience the practices of denmark colleagues. The introductive intensive study coaurse of 12 lecturers from Bultgaria took place during month of February 1995. The study course was excellent organized and was very useful for all participants. During the twelve days were carried out lectures, as well as practical seminars, scientific excursions. It has been received a rich information, study materials - textbooks, brochures, scientific magazines, research study, etc. After the end of the study course the partnership has continued in different directions. As partners at the project the colleagues have participated at workshops and scientific conference at Bulgaria. Bulgarian lecturers participated in short-term specializations at Folkecenter. Jointly was elaborated and installed a small biogas instalation with volume of 1m2 for educational purposes, in Bulgaria. The contacts continued with the preparation of international projects, on scientific international conferences and congresses.
Annually at the Technical University of Varna took place summer seminars RES "Impulse VARNA". The seminars were organized by EUROSOLAR, National Energy Efficiency Agency, TU – Varna and Local government of Varna. A chairman of honour of the seminar is Dr. Herman Scheer, President of Eurosolar and a member of the German Parliament. The main lecturers usually are from Germany, Belguim, Denmark, Bulgaria.
During 2003 – 2005 EUC took part in European programme ALTENER, project SOLTRAIN with a partnership with Germany, Great Britain. Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, Rumania. The main goal of the project was business education programmes in the field of pV and wind systems.
Except education, the Center develops science, research and consulting. Last eight years EUC was involved in business relations in the field of RES in this number “Association for Ecological Energy Production”, Bulgaria ( related with wind energy exploration ), EOS Technologies, Germany ( related with sun energy and pV systems ), AEROENERGY, Bulgaria ( wind systems ), SOLAR CENTER MV, Germany ( any kinds of RES – pV systems, Solar vehicles, Wind park Luebow – 2MW, etc. )
Since now two preliminary projects, connected with wind energy were performed. EUC continuously consults different organizations and companies about wind energy and other kind of renewables. Power installation at the Technical University : two pV systems, totally 1,7 kWp, a hybrid system wind 500 W and pV 200 Wp, AC wind generator with a vertical axis 2,5 kW. EUC also develops systems for meteorological parameters measurement.
The team of the center consists of specialist of different science branch, including legal support.