Bulgaria posted a net electricity export surplus of 3.69 TWh between January 1 and October 18, 2026. During the period, electricity output expanded faster than domestic consumption. Rising renewable generation contributed to offsetting lower production from coal and nuclear plants .
Total electricity production reached 36.23 TWh, up 12.41% versus the same period of 2025. Electricity consumption increased 8.32% to 32.54 TWh. The gap left Bulgaria with a substantial surplus while domestic demand strengthened .
Generation mix shifts between coal, nuclear and renewables
Coal and nuclear plants generated a combined 22.32 TWh, down 3.5% year on year. Despite the decline, these units accounted for approximately 61.6% of total electricity production during the period. Their output therefore remained a key element of Bulgaria’s supply balance.
Renewable generation connected to the transmission network rose 30.34% to 4,344.2 GWh. Renewables feeding into distribution networks increased 12.64% to 3,795.5 GWh. Combined, those two renewable categories supplied about 8.14 TWh, or roughly 22.5% of total production.
Implications for regional power supply during high-demand periods
The overall increase in electricity output occurred alongside lower generation from the coal and nuclear fleet. Renewables provided a larger share of generation while domestic demand grew, supporting the persistence of the export surplus across the period . The figures indicate a changing generation mix in Bulgaria’s power system.
Bulgaria’s positive annual balance remains significant for neighbouring electricity markets. However, supplying power during individual high-demand periods depends on the availability and timing of generation rather than the cumulative size of the export surplus alone .
