Bulgaria’s electricity system showed a mixed but structurally important shift in the period from 1 January to 21 June 2026, according to data published by the Electricity System Operator (ESO).
Total electricity production in Bulgaria increased by 3.76% year-on-year, reaching 20.56 TWh, indicating a modest expansion in overall generation output.
At the same time, domestic electricity consumption also rose significantly, increasing by 6.74% to a total of 19.98 TWh, reflecting stronger internal demand conditions across the system.
Despite higher consumption, Bulgaria remained a net electricity exporter, with exports amounting to 579 GWh over the observed period.
However, the structure of generation shifted notably. Output from baseload power plants (coal and nuclear) declined by 10.9% compared to 2025, totaling 13.18 TWh, suggesting reduced reliance on traditional firm generation sources.
In contrast, renewable energy sources (RES) continued to expand. Production from RES connected to the transmission network increased by 13.86%, reaching 1,961.7 GWh, while RES generation in the distribution network rose by 4.78% to 1,910.5 GWh, highlighting steady growth in decentralized renewable capacity.
