site.btaBulgaria’s Electricity Generation Grows by 21.39% Y/Y since Beginning of 2025

Year-to-date electricity generation in Bulgaria has increased by 21.39% to 9,451,748 megawatt hours (MWh) by March 9, compared to the same period in 2024. This is according to the latest operational data of the Electricity System Operator (ESO), which was published on the operator's website on Tuesday. At the same time, electricity consumption also recorded a growth of 10.61%  reaching 9,047,292 MWh.

The country is moving from a negative balance (export-import) of 393,445 MWh in 2024 to a positive balance of 404,456 MWh in 2025.

Base load power plants also increase their generation by 23.06% to 7,883,638 MWh.

Among the various sources of electricity, photovoltaic (PV) plants recorded the highest increase, with 59.51% in the transmission grid and 63.32% in the distribution grid. However, wind power plants (WPPs) registered a decline of 19.52% and 21.89% respectively.

The data shows a year-to-date decline of 9.34% in the generation of electricity from hydro power plants as compared to the same period in 2024.

Chairman of the Board at Energy Management Institute (EMI) Kaloyan Staykov told BTA that the difference in imports and exports of electricity last year and this year is mainly due to external demand. In 2024 Bulgaria imported electricity because it was more profitable, while this year the situation is the opposite.

According to Staykov, however, this is due to both market and weather factors. At the beginning of this year, temperatures were lower and drought and low winds limited the possibilities for electricity production from renewable sources. As a result, base load plants, mainly coal, have made up the difference in both domestic and external demand. The other problem is the limited interconnection between Western and Eastern Europe, which has led to the segregation of markets and the artificial creation of two market areas that are supposedly part of a single electricity market.

"The Bulgarian energy market has always been strongly influenced by external demand," Staykov pointed out, adding that domestic consumption remains relatively stable, but external factors can lead to significant changes in the trade balance.