In 2020 production of electricity in Bulgaria has decreased by 7.67 % compared to the same period in 2019 and reached 40.74 TWh, according to the data published by Bulgarian electricity transmission system operator ESO. Surplus electricity amounted to 3.44 TWh in 2020, which is 41.17 % less than in 2019.
According to energy expert Pavlin Pavlov, previous projections of a drop in both electricity generation and consumption proved to be right. Given the huge impact of the pandemic, there was no way to see growth in production and consumption in 2020.
Pavlov stressed that it is not only the restrictions and closing the economy that have had such an impact. The main reason for the reduced production is that the Bulgarian electricity is becoming less attractive to foreign markets due to their unification. For example, electricity prices on regional markets are almost comparable. There has been no such market situation in the last 15 years. As a result of the drastic restrictive measures affecting economic activity negative prices were recorded in some countries at certain hours in the first quarter of last year. Pavlov expects the future and development of Europe’s electricity markets to be still impacted by the pandemic. The crisis that occurred in 2020 was surprising and unexpected. But it seems that this situation will not end anytime soon, and the call on humanity to learn to live with more limited resources and more distant from each other becomes increasingly more real.
