Between 1 January and 5 July 2026, Bulgaria’s electricity production increased by 3.96% year on year, reaching 22.27 TWh, according to data published by the Bulgarian electricity transmission system operator ESO. Electricity consumption over the same period rose by 6.82% year on year to 21.4 TWh. Despite higher domestic demand, Bulgaria remained a net exporter, with net exports of 866.6 GWh in the first half of 2026.
Demand growth alongside net export position
The increase in consumption coincided with an overall rise in generation during the first months of 2026. Bulgaria’s export balance stayed positive even as demand expanded, with net exports recorded at 866.6 GWh for the January-to-June period. The figures show that higher domestic use did not prevent continued electricity flows out of the country.
Baseload generation declines while renewables expand
Bulgaria’s generation mix continued to shift toward renewable output, while baseload production from conventional plants fell. Coal-fired and nuclear facilities produced a combined 14.14 TWh, representing a 10.6% decline versus the same period in 2025. At the same time, renewable energy sources connected to the transmission network increased by 12.89% to 2,216.9 GWh.
Renewable generation within transmission and distribution networks
Renewable production within Bulgaria’s distribution network also rose, increasing by 3.9% to 2,127.3 GWh. Together, these changes reflect higher renewable contribution across both transmission-connected and distribution-connected segments of the system. The reported figures indicate that conventional baseload output declined while RES volumes grew during the same window.
Southeast Europe context for low-carbon supply and trade
Bulgaria’s early-2026 performance aligns with expanding renewable capacity and the continued role of nuclear generation cited in regional market developments across Southeast Europe. The data point to changing dynamics where flexible and low-carbon electricity sources are becoming more relevant for domestic supply security and cross-border trade. Within this framework, Bulgaria’s higher consumption was met with increased generation capacity alongside growing RES volumes.
