Electricity in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2023/2024

Bosnia & Herzegovina currently relies heavily on fossil fuels for its electricity generation, with more than three-fifths of its electricity coming from coal, which represents 62.66% of the total electricity production from October 2023 to September 2024. In contrast, low-carbon sources contribute to a smaller but significant portion of the electricity mix. Hydropower stands out as the major low-carbon source, accounting for approximately 35.5% of electricity generation alone. In addition, wind energy plays a minimal role, contributing just over 1% of the country's electricity. The reliance on fossil fuels is stark, and these contribute substantially to air pollution and climate change, emphasizing the need for a transition towards cleaner energy sources.

Suggestions

To increase the share of low-carbon electricity, Bosnia & Herzegovina can look towards countries with successful low-carbon strategies. For example, Slovakia and Slovenia, both relatively small European countries, generate 60% and 33% of their electricity from nuclear power, respectively. This switch has significantly helped these countries reduce their carbon footprints. Denmark, another European nation, generates a significant percentage (61%) of its electricity from wind, showcasing the potential of wind farms. Uruguay and Ireland also serve as excellent models, with wind contributing 36% and 34%, respectively. By looking at these examples, Bosnia & Herzegovina can strategize on scaling up its nuclear and wind energy capabilities, alongside optimizing existing hydropower resources to decrease its reliance on coal.

History

Historically, Bosnia & Herzegovina has seen significant fluctuations in its hydropower generation. The early 1990s experienced increased hydropower generation, with notable growth in 1991, adding 2.1 TWh, but this was followed by a decline in subsequent years (-1.7 TWh in 1992 and -1 TWh in 1993). The mid-1990s saw steady improvements, such as in 1996 with an increase of 1.5 TWh. The late 2000s included both rises and falls, such as a substantial dip in 2011 (-3.6 TWh) and a major rise in 2013 (3.1 TWh). Recent years have continued this trend with fluctuations like a 2.1 TWh increase in 2021 and a decrease of 2 TWh during the 2023/2024 period. These changes underscore the variability of hydropower and reinforce the need to diversify with stable low-carbon sources like nuclear and wind.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources