Electricity in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2022
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, fossil fuels dominate the electricity generation landscape with a share of a little over 60%. Coal in particular makes up almost all of this source, contributing more than 60% of the total electricity mix. On the other hand, low-carbon energy comprises nearly 38% of the total electricity, with the significant part of it - about 34% - derived from hydropower. Wind, solar, and biofuels contribute almost 3.5% to the total power generation structure collectively, with wind making up the majority of this percentage. Notably, Bosnia & Herzegovina is a net electricity exporter, producing more energy than it consumes.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Bosnia & Herzegovina could take inspiration from countries where this has been achieved successfully. Considering that Bosnia & Herzegovina has already invested heavily in hydropower, diversifying into other clean energy options could reduce reliance on a single source of low-carbon electricity. Countries like Denmark and Ireland, where wind contributes to more than a third of the electricity generation could serve as models. Nuclear power also presents another option - countries like France, Slovakia, and the Ukraine have a majority of their electricity generated from nuclear power. As Bosnia & Herzegovina has a significant share of electricity generated from low-carbon sources already, it might be strategic to ramp up nuclear and wind power generation.
History
Looking into the history of low-carbon electricity in Bosnia & Herzegovina, hydropower has consistently been a significant player in the country's electricity generation mix since the early 1990s. Throughout the years, hydropower generation has seen both ups and downs. For instance, after a rise of 2.1 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 1991, a decline followed in the subsequent year. A trend of growth and decline continued throughout the years — notable increases followed by decreases occurred in the mid-1990s and again in the 2000s. In more recent years, a similar pattern persisted with a substantial increase of 2.5 TWh in 2018, but a decrease saw 1.5 TWh less generation in 2020. Despite these fluctuations, hydropower remains a principal source of Bosnia & Herzegovina's low-carbon electricity generation and will likely continue in this essential role in the future.