North Macedonia produced 462,653 MWh of electricity in May 2026, an increase of 3.8% from the same month a year earlier, as stronger hydropower and wind generation compensated for declining thermal output.
Gross electricity consumption reached 479,603 MWh, with domestic production covering 96.5% of demand. Imports amounted to 87,978 MWh, down from 109,220 MWh in May 2025, while exports increased to 71,028 MWh from 67,840 MWh.
Thermal power plants generated 146,647 MWh, representing 31.7% of total output. Production from the segment fell 13.6% year on year, illustrating the continuing pressure on North Macedonia’s ageing lignite fleet and domestic coal-supply system.
Hydropower production increased 33.2% to 138,015 MWh, accounting for 29.8% of generation. Wind farms supplied 31,435 MWh, or 6.8%, after recording annual growth of 50.6%.
Solar plants and prosumers generated 143,419 MWh, equal to approximately 31% of total electricity output. Solar production was nevertheless 2.5% lower than in May 2025, suggesting that installed-capacity additions were offset by weaker irradiation or differences in the reporting perimeter and operating conditions.
Biogas plants contributed a further 2,993 MWh. The near-equal shares of thermal, hydro and solar generation produced a more diversified monthly mix than North Macedonia historically maintained, although the balance remains sensitive to weather and lignite availability.
Natural-gas consumption during May stood at 4.46 million cubic metres, coal consumption reached 264,997 tonnes, and petroleum-product consumption amounted to 78,468 tonnes. Approximately 99.9% of coal consumption was used for electricity production.
The reduction in net imports improves the monthly trade balance, but it does not remove North Macedonia’s structural exposure to winter supply risk. Hydropower and solar output are seasonal, while the reliability of domestic thermal production remains tied to mine productivity, plant availability and maintenance at the country’s lignite-fired facilities.
