Share of renewable energy in final energy consumption

In 2023, the share of energy from renewable sources in Bulgaria’s gross final energy consumption was 22.55%, a 3.51% increase compared with 2022 and 1.38% higher than the target for 2023, as set out in the 2024 update of the integrated energy and climate plan of the Republic of Bulgaria (INPEK). To meet the national target for the share of renewable energy sources (RESs) in gross final energy consumption, the INPEK also sets targets for individual sectors: a 24.39% share of RESs for the electricity sector, 33.77% for heating and cooling and 8.31% for transport. From 2022 to 2023, there was an increase in RES shares in the electricity, heating and cooling sector and the transport sector, moving towards the 2023 targets. The increased use of sustainable biofuels also contributed to a higher share of renewable energy in the transport sector in 2023. Structurally, the largest contributions to the production of electricity from renewables came from hydropower plants (347.7 ktoe), followed by photovoltaic power plants (302.7 ktoe), solid biomass power plants (146.9 ktoe), wind power plants (121.4 ktoe) and biomass and biogas power plants (121.4 ktoe).