In 2018, Georgian power plants generated 12 154 mln. kWh of electricity. This represents a 5% increase in total generation, compared to the previous year (in 2017, total generation was 11 531 mln. kWh) (Figure 1). The increase in generation on a yearly basis comes from increase in hydropower (9%), more than offsetting the decrease in thermal (-5%) and wind power generation (-4%).
Among the different sources of electricity, hydropower consolidated its dominance. Specifically, in 2018, hydropower (HPP) generation amounted to 9949 mln. kWh (82% of total); wind power (WPP) generation was 84 mln. kWh (1% of total), and thermal power (TPP) generation was 2115 mln. kWh (17% of total).
Consumption of electricity in the local market was 12 596 mln. kWh. Overall, the annual increase in electricity consumption was 6% in 2018 (compared to 2017). In 2018, total consumption exceeded generation by 447 mln kWh, which is approximately 4% of the total consumption and the amount generated (compared to 344 mln. kWh and 3% deficit of total generation for October 2018).