Electricity in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2023

In 2023, Bosnia & Herzegovina largely depended on fossil fuels for its electricity needs, with coal alone accounting for close to 60% of total consumption. This meant that fossil energy was responsible for over half of the country's power supply. On the other side, low-carbon power sources formed just over 40% of the energy pie. Here, hydropower was the most employed resource, contributing over 40%, followed by wind energy, though the latter made up a mere 1% of the low-carbon energy production.

Suggestions

To increase generation from low-carbon sources, Bosnia & Herzegovina can draw inspiration from other nations that have successfully done so. For instance, nuclear energy is hugely successful in France and Slovakia, contributing to 66% and 61% of their respective national electricity needs. Additionally, Denmark has successfully harnessed wind power to cater for 59% of its electricity requirements. Bosnia & Herzegovina can learn from and adopt these nations' strategies to increase their clean energy output. Given its access to significant hydro resources, and considering the contexts of countries like France, Slovakia, and Denmark, the country could explore the potential for wind generation more intensely and start making significant investments in nuclear energy.

History

The transition to low-carbon energy in Bosnia & Herzegovina has been marked by fluctuations, predominantly using hydropower since the early 1990s. In 1991, there was an increase of 2.1 TWh in hydroelectricity generation. However, the years that followed saw a significant reduction of 1.7 TWh and 1 TWh in 1992 and 1993 respectively. A period of increase ensued till 1996, followed by another rise in 1999. Notably, there was a sharp decline of 3.6 TWh in 2011, and this trend continued with varying degrees of decrease until 2022, with slight recovery periods in between. This history highlights the need for diversification in low-carbon energy sources, possibly adding wind and nuclear to the mix for stable and sustainable power generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources