“The first 40 days of 2025 have passed. Despite a very warm January (+3 degrees above normal), electricity prices are very high – on average about 60% above last year. Lignite plants are again bearing the brunt of winter, delivering 22% more electricity in the first month than a year ago. February started cold and lignite plants are working even harder – in 9 days (33% of the month) they have already produced 57% of the amount produced in February, 2024. If they ride it out like this, they’ll easily make at least a 50% jump for the month.”
That’s what energy expert Boyan Rashev commented on Facebook, noting that the details are more interesting. This is what one sees on the side when one looks at the performance data of some of our major power plants, he points out, writing on the social network:
“Kozloduy NPP produces about 7% less compared to 2024. Unit 6’s load is steadily below capacity, which cannot be a coincidence. Not good.
The Maritsa East 2 power plant is splitting from operation – ranging between 1000 and 1550 MW with min 6, but mostly 7 or 8 units running simultaneously. By comparison, at the same time a year ago it was operating with max 3 units at about 400 MW. Without having exact data, it is probably producing about 3 times as much this year.
Indeed, ContourGlobal Maritsa-East 3 is back in the power system with two active units (50% of its full capacity). So far it is working mainly with unit 3, and during the coldest days it also switched on unit 4. Her work has contributed a lot to keep prices from skyrocketing uncontrollably.
AES Galabovo is working as it does every winter. Both units are under steam continuously and with huge load fluctuations. Our most modern CHP plant is critical to balancing the system and is doing an excellent job.
The Bobov Dol TPP operates as a standard base plant with 2 (300 MW) of the 3 units, with the units changing weekly.
After endless repairs, the Chaira PVPP was switched on with one turbine in December. It operates almost every day, including mornings and evenings, taking advantage of large price differences at different times of the day. And so on until 24 January. After that, the Chaira power station disappeared from the system again. I am afraid to write what I think…
NEC’s other large hydro plants are quite active in the mornings and evenings (delivering up to 800-1000 MW in 2-3 hours), but there is a relative curtailment of their operation in February. It is probably because of the reduction in rainfall.
Everything else appears and disappears from time to time and does not contribute significantly to system reliability. That is the situation.”
