Georgia’s electricity generation increases by 7% in Q1, consumption up by 2%

Georgia’s electricity generation increased by seven percent during the first three months of 2024 while consumption increased by two percent, the National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission said in its latest update of the figures. 

The country consumed 3.69 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the quarter, relying more on locally generated electricity this year, with the total domestic generation amounting to 3.32 billion kilowatt-hours, the body added. 

The figures resulted in a decrease in the import of electricity, with 438 million kilowatt-hours purchased marking a 27 reduction from 600 million in 2023.
Output of hydropower plants in the country improved in 2024 due to abundant rainfall and other factors, the Commission said, with 2.14 billion kilowatt-hours generated in the quarter being a 41 percent increase over 1.51 billion in Q1 last year.

Enguri hydropower plant, the country’s largest electricity producing facility, produced the most energy with 347 million kilowatt-hours - an 86 percent increase from the previous year.

The increase in hydropower plant output led to a decrease in the demand for the output of thermal power plants. As a result, thermal plants generated only 1.16 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity - a 26 percent decrease from the previous year, the Commission noted.

Figures also showed electricity transit to Turkey decreased this year due to the increase of local generation in the country. Transit from Azerbaijan to Turkey in Q1 was measured at 302 million kilowatt-hours, a 75 percent reduction from 1.19 billion in the first quarter of last year.