Electricity in Bulgaria in 2023/2024

From November 2023 to October 2024, Bulgaria's electricity landscape has been significantly shaped by low-carbon sources, with these sustainable forms of energy accounting for more than two-thirds of total electricity generation. Within this category, nuclear power stands out as the leading contributor, providing over 40% of the electricity. Solar and hydropower also play vital roles, contributing almost 13% and just over 8%, respectively. Conversely, fossil fuels remain a notable part of the energy mix but to a lesser extent, contributing around 32% of the total. Coal makes up the bulk of this fossil energy consumption at roughly 27%, while gas accounts for just under 6%. Wind energy is still developing in Bulgaria, supplying close to 4% of the electricity needs.

Suggestions

To enhance its clean electricity production, Bulgaria can leverage its existing strengths in nuclear and solar energy. Expanding these capacities can significantly boost the proportion of low-carbon electricity. Specifically, focusing on nuclear expansion will align Bulgaria with countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear dominates the low-carbon energy landscape with major contributions to their national grids. Moreover, Bulgaria can look to the experiences of Denmark and its peers in wind integration, learning from these success stories in scaling up wind-based electricity. This may include adopting cutting-edge technologies and policy frameworks from these countries to optimize wind energy deployment locally, thus diversifying Bulgaria's clean energy portfolio further.

History

Historically, Bulgaria has experienced fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation, notably within the nuclear sector. Starting in the early 1980s, there was a positive trend with nuclear electricity output increasing, evidenced by significant expansions in the years 1981, 1983, and 1988. However, the early 1990s saw setbacks with declines in 1991 and 1992. The subsequent decade witnessed more growth, notably in 2000 and 2005, although there was a sharp decline in 2003. Notably, 2007 experienced a considerable decrease, reflecting changes in the sector's dynamics. The 2010s also had varied results with some declines and recoveries in nuclear and hydroelectric sources. Entering into the 2020s, Bulgaria's commitment towards greener sources of power continued evolving, although recent times show a minor retrenchment in biofuel output by 2024.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources