Total hydropower production in the Southeast Europe region decreased in the fifth week of January compared to the previous week, as a result of lower rainfall across the region. Production decreased compared to the fourth week by 11 percent on average, from 2.29 TWh to 2.04 TWh.
Hydropower production in the period from January 30 to February 5 in SEE fell in all markets in the region, with Croatia and Romania recording the largest drop in hydropower production, by 25 percent and 20 percent, respectively, to 144 GWh and 376 GW.
Greece recorded a 13 percent drop in hydropower production, to a total of 119 GWh, while in Bulgaria it was reduced by 12 percent, to 67 GWh.
Thermal energy production also decreased in all SEE markets, driven by lower electricity demand and higher renewable generation. As a result, the decline in thermal energy production amounted to 2 percent, from 9.57 TWh in the fourth week to 9.37 TWh in the fifth week.
Coal-based production in the region increased by 3 percent, to 4.5 TWh, and gas-based production decreased by 6 percent, to 4.9 TWh. Lignite production in Greece increased by as much as 70 percent, to 164 GWh, and gas production fell by almost 8 percent, reaching 201 GWh.
Bulgaria, one of the leading exporters of electricity in the region, recorded a jump in production in coal and gas-fired thermal power plants by 4 percent and 7 percent, respectively, to 489 GWh and 63 GWh.