Electricity Production and Exports Rise Sharply in Albania in Q1 2026
Electricity production and exports increased significantly in the first quarter of 2026, while imports fell by more than half, according to data published by INSTAT on the country’s electricity balance.
Net domestic electricity production reached 3,647 GWh in the first three months of the year, compared with 2,234 GWh in the same period a year earlier, marking an increase of 63.2%. The growth was driven mainly by public hydropower plants, as well as private and concessionary hydropower producers, which together accounted for more than 93% of domestic production. Other producers, mainly photovoltaic plants, represented around 7% of total generation.
Gross electricity exports, including exchanges, rose to 1,503 GWh, up from 732 GWh in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 105.4%. At the same time, gross imports fell to 327 GWh, from 767 GWh, reflecting a decline of 57.4%.
As a result, the electricity exchange balance was positive at 1,177 GWh, while domestic production covered most of the country’s demand.
Public hydropower plants generated 1,667 GWh during the period, up 63% compared with the same quarter of the previous year. Production from private and concessionary hydropower plants reached 1,726 GWh, an annual increase of 66.8%. Meanwhile, other electricity producers, including photovoltaic plants, generated 254 GWh in the first quarter, compared with 176 GWh a year earlier, recording growth of 44%.
Electricity available for consumption increased by 8.9% compared with the first quarter of 2025, while final consumption reached 1,954 GWh, up 9.1% year-on-year.
Household electricity consumption increased by 8.8%, while consumption by businesses and other non-household consumers expanded by 9.5%. INSTAT also reported that network losses reached 516 GWh, or 8% higher than a year earlier. However, the share of losses in relation to electricity available for consumption declined slightly to 20.9%, from 21.1% in the first quarter of 2025.
Transmission losses increased by 31.9%, while distribution losses rose by 5.1%, according to official data.
| Indicators | Q1 2025 | Q1 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Available energy (A=1+2-3) | 2.269.259 | 2.470.192 |
| 1 | Domestic net production (1=1.1+1.2+1.3) | 2.233.905 | 3.646.805 |
| 1.1 | Thermal power plants | 0 | 0 |
| 1.2 | Hydropower plants (1.2=a+b) | 2.057.523 | 3.392.739 |
| a | Public (a=a.1-a.2) | 1.022.784 | 1.666.663 |
| a.1 | Gross production of public hydropower plants | 1.032.261 | 1.679.355 |
| a.2 | Losses and own consumption | 9.477 | 12.693 |
| b | Independent private and concessionary producers | 1.034.740 | 1.726.076 |
| 1.3 | Other producers — other renewable energy sources | 176.381 | 254.066 |
| 2 | Gross imports — energy received | 767.187 | 326.815 |
| 3 | Gross exports — energy delivered | 731.833 | 1.503.429 |
| B | Electricity consumption (B=1+2) | 2.269.259 | 2.470.192 |
| 1 | Network losses (1.1+1.2) | 477.816 | 515.817 |
| 1.1 | Losses and own consumption in transmission | 51.088 | 67.361 |
| 1.2 | Distribution losses (1.2=a+b)1 | 426.728 | 448.456 |
| a | Technical losses in distribution | 312.071 | 336.635 |
| b | Non-technical losses in distribution2 | 114.657 | 111.821 |
| 2 | Use by consumers (2=2.1+2.2) | 1.791.443 | 1.954.375 |
| 2.1 | Household consumers | 1.064.956 | 1.158.522 |
| 2.2 | Non-household consumers | 726.487 | 795.853 |
Electricity Production and Exports Surge in Q1 2026
Official INSTAT data show that Albania’s electricity available for consumption increased by 8.9% year-on-year, supported by a strong rise in domestic generation and a sharp increase in exports.
Q1 2025 vs Q1 2026: Electricity Balance
| Indicator | Q1 2025 | Q1 2026 | Change |
|---|
