In early 2026, Slovenia’s electricity generation experienced a significant downturn, primarily driven by a sharp decrease in hydropower output. The country’s hydropower plants along the Drava, Sava, and Soča rivers generated a total of 718 GWh in the first quarter, which represents a 23.1% decline compared to the same period in 2025. This drop also fell short by 10.5% of long-term production expectations, indicating adverse hydrological conditions affecting the region.
The reduction in hydropower production was observed across all major river basins, with the most pronounced impacts occurring on the Drava and in the upper Sava area. Continued low river flows and diminished snow reserves in the Alps throughout winter have contributed to this constrained hydropower availability, limiting the renewable resource’s capacity to meet demand.
As hydropower generation waned, other energy sources stepped up to fill the gap. The Krško Nuclear Power Plant emerged as a key player, producing 1,516 GWh during this period. Additionally, the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant contributed 666.3 GWh. Notably, TE-TO Ljubljana saw a substantial increase in output, generating 311.9 GWh—an increase of nearly 120% year-on-year—following the commissioning of a new gas-fired unit. This shift underscores the growing thermal flexibility within Slovenia’s energy system.
Further support came from the Brestanica thermal power plant, where production rose approximately 53% year-on-year to reach 14.8 GWh. However, despite these increases from conventional sources, the overall data reflects a systemic transition towards traditional generation methods aimed at stabilizing supply amidst fluctuating hydropower performance.
Total electricity supplied from domestic sources during January to March 2026 amounted to 3,226.7 GWh, marking a 5.5% decrease from the previous year and falling short by 1.9% against planned levels. These figures highlight the significant impact of reduced hydropower output on Slovenia’s national electricity generation balance and raise concerns about future energy stability in light of ongoing climatic challenges.
