Western Europe brags about wind farms, but flip the map east and coal still powers entire nations. Bosnia gets 90% of its electricity from coal mines older than your grandparents. Let’s dissect Europe’s messy energy reality – and why Albania’s rivers matter more than Norway’s turbines.
2024’s Primary Electricity Sources by Country
- 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina – Coal (Tuzla plant emits 10M tons CO2/year)
- 🇷🇸 Serbia – Coal (Kostolac mine employs 12,000 workers)
- 🇦🇱 Albania – Hydro (Drin River dams power 95% of homes)
- 🇽🇰 Kosovo – Coal (70% from 1960s-era Kosovo A plant)
- 🇲🇰 North Macedonia – Coal (Air pollution kills 2,300/year)
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria – Coal (Maritsa basin fuels 45% of GDP)
- 🇷🇴 Romania – Hydro (Iron Gates Dam spans Danube)
- 🇲🇩 Moldova – Gas (100% imported from Russia pre-2022)
- 🇹🇷 Turkey – Coal (Domestic mines offset $60B energy imports)
- 🇬🇪 Georgia – Hydro (Enguri Dam taller than Eiffel Tower)
Why Coal Still Dominates
- Jobs: Bosnia’s coal sector employs 22,000 in towns with 80% unemployment
- Cost: Serbian coal costs $18/MWh vs $45 for solar
- Infrastructure: Kosovo’s grid can’t handle more than 10% renewables
3 Hidden Energy Crises
- Albania’s hydro dams run dry during droughts (2022 blackouts lasted 8hrs/day)
- Moldova’s Russian gas dependency dropped from 100% to 30% – prices tripled
- Bulgarian coal ash contaminates 40% of drinking water
FAQs: Europe’s Energy Landscape
- Why don’t these countries switch to renewables?
- Bosnia’s coal lobby blocks reforms. See transition roadblocks.
- Is hydropower truly green?
- Albania’s dams displaced 10,000+ people. Methane from reservoirs = 1.3% global emissions.
- When will coal phase out?
- Serbia targets 2050 – but 12 coal plants still under construction.
The Road to Clean Energy
- Georgia’s $2B hydropower expansion (EU-funded)
- Romania’s wind farms now offset 18% of coal use
- Turkey’s geothermal potential untapped (could replace 30% of coal)
Final Watt
Europe’s energy split shows climate action isn’t one-size-fits-all. For deeper dives, explore our Balkan Energy Report or Global Coal Phaseout Tracker. The path to net-zero starts with acknowledging today’s messy reality.
