In 2024, Bulgaria's electricity consumption reveals a noteworthy trend towards clean energy, as low-carbon sources constitute more than 70% of the total electricity generation. Nuclear power plays the most significant role in this mix, accounting for nearly 42%, while more than half of electricity is generated from other low-carbon sources such as solar, hydropower, biofuels, and wind. Solar energy makes a substantial contribution, providing over 14% of the total, whereas hydropower and wind contribute about 8% and 4%, respectively. In contrast, fossil fuels form the minority share of the country's electricity generation, with coal accounting for almost 22% and natural gas for about 5%. This transition towards cleaner energy signifies a promising shift, although continued efforts are needed to decrease the reliance on fossil fuels, which exacerbate climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Bulgaria?
Despite the promising advancements in low-carbon electricity generation, Bulgaria's overall electricity consumption is on the decline. The total electricity usage in 2024 stands at approximately 5464 kWh per person, a significant drop from the 2022 peak of 7366 kWh per person, indicating a decrease of 1902 kWh. In contrast, the production of low-carbon electricity reached a new high of 3982 kWh per person, slightly surpassing the previous peak in 2021 by 85 kWh. This implies a positive trend towards more sustainable energy sources in the overall mix, but the decreased total consumption might raise concerns about whether electricity is growing in step with the demands of modern electrification and technological advancements. The focus should be on boosting both total consumption and clean energy production to support future growth sustainably.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Bulgaria should prioritize the expansion of nuclear and solar energy, given their existing substantial contributions. Observing other successful countries, Bulgaria can adopt strategies from nations like France and Slovakia, which have achieved impressive results with nuclear power at 68% and 62% of their electricity mix, respectively. On the solar front, Bulgaria can learn from Lebanon, which generates 31% of its electricity from solar power. Emulating these examples will bolster Bulgaria's clean energy capacity. By doing so, Bulgaria can cement its position as a leader in low-carbon electricity generation, essential for addressing climate change and meeting the increasing electricity demands due to technological progress and electrification.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Bulgaria, especially nuclear energy, has seen a series of fluctuations over the decades. Since the early 1980s, nuclear power grew significantly, as seen with increments in 1981, 1983, and 1988. However, the 1990s marked a period of instability, with notable declines in nuclear generation in 1991 and 1992, likely linked to broader regional transformations. The early 2000s witnessed another surge in nuclear energy, with growth in 2000 and 2005, only to see setbacks in 2003 and 2007. Hydropower, experiencing both growth in years like 2010 and setbacks such as in 2011 and 2019, plays a supplementary role. More recently, solar energy has shown a positive trajectory with an increase in 2024, indicating potential for further development as part of Bulgaria's strategy to expand its low-carbon electricity generation portfolio. This historical context underlines the importance of strategic planning and investment in low-carbon technologies, most notably nuclear and solar, to achieve sustained growth.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.