Slovenia’s largest gas-fired power plant, Termoelektrarna Brestanica (TEB), achieved an all-time monthly output record in January, driven by unusually demanding winter conditions. The plant operates seven gas units with a combined capacity of over 400 MW.
According to the plant’s technical management, prolonged cold spells and sharply higher electricity prices made gas turbines commercially attractive, despite their typically high operating costs. This allowed TEB to operate at elevated output levels, particularly toward the end of the month, setting a new production milestone.
Gas-fired plants in Slovenia are generally used for short-term balancing, emergency coverage, or reserve capacity, but this winter’s combination of low temperatures and weak hydrological conditions required a shift in operating patterns. During parts of January, some units ran for up to 15 hours per day, far exceeding their usual utilization.
Not all units were dispatched simultaneously, as several blocks remained on standby to support nuclear plant Krško. Operations prioritized the newest and most efficient units, with additional units activated only when market demand and system needs required it.
The January performance highlighted the strategic role of gas-fired generation in Slovenia’s electricity system during extreme weather, showing how flexible thermal capacity can temporarily move from reserve to a central operational role when market and system conditions converge.
