site.btaShare of Photovoltaic Plants in Transmission Grid Up by 115% Y/Y in 2024, ESO Reports

Photovoltaic (PV) participation in the country's transmission grid has increased by 115.01% for the period January 1, 2024 to May 19, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This is according to the latest operational report on the country's energy balance by the Electricity System Operator (ESO), published on its website on Tuesday. From the beginning of the year to May 19, the reported share of PV energy in the transmission grid was 739,248 megawatt hours, while for the same period in 2023, it was 343,814 MWh. The share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the transmission grid has increased by 44.53% for the same period.

The share of RES in the distribution network also increased by 27.18% in 2024. The data shows that 1,105,746 MWh of electricity have been injected into the distribution network from renewable energy sources until May 19 this year, up from 869,458 MWh in January – May last year. The participation of PV power stations in the distribution grid for the compared period increased by 55.06%.

Electricity generation in Bulgaria decreased by 11.41% for the period January 1 to May 19, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This year, 14,874,702 MWh were produced, while for the same period last year the electricity produced was 16,790,779 MWh.

From January 1 to May 19, 2024, the country's electricity consumption was 4.51% less compared to the same period in 2023. During the reporting period of the current year, 14,616,738 MWh were consumed, while in the corresponding period of last year the consumption was 15,307,557 MWh.

The balance (export-import) of electricity has declined by 82.61% in the compared period, the ESO report further showed. From January 1, 2024 to May 19, 2024, it was 257,964 MWh, while for the same period last year it was 1,483,222 MWh.

The share of base-load power plants in the country's energy balance from the beginning of the year to May 19 decreased by 18.99% compared to this period of 2023. Base-load power plants generated 11,309,390 MWh of electricity from January 1 to May 19 this year, compared to 13,961,010 MWh for the same period in 2023.

There is an increase of 13.67% in the electricity generated from hydropower plants for the period January 1, 2024 to May 19, 2024 as compared to 2023, the ESO report further showed.