In Bulgaria 2021 saw an increase in electricity production by 17% compared to 2020, mainly due to higher production of hydropower by 51% and conventional power plants by 15%. At the same time there was an increase in consumption of about 4% to 38.9 TWh, but most of the increased generation went for export. Exports reached levels of almost 9 TWh, an increase of 2.5 times over the previous year. Thus, in 2021 the high levels of electricity exports remind of the period 5 – 10 years ago.
At the same time, RES production, excluding HPPs, is slightly lower than the previous year, but this is relatively normal, given that 2020 was extremely favorable for RES. The decrease is in the energy generation from wind is 2.5%, while the production of photovoltaic power plants has a slight increase of 1%.
Traditionally, coal-fired power plants are mostly used in the winter months, but unlike 2020, when they generated most in January, in 2021 it was in September. In the other warm months there is also an increase compared to the previous year, which can be largely explained by the soaring electricity prices since July and the order of the government to activate all capacities of the state-owned TPP “Maritsa East 2″.
Overall, Bulgaria’s electricity system has returned and slightly exceeded 2019 levels prior the coronavirus pandemic.
ESO data for the period 01.01.2021 – 31.12.2021 compared to 01.01.2020 – 31.12.2020
Source: ESO
