Electricity imports in 2024 became the largest since 2014, reaching almost 4.5 million MWh, while exports fell to a historically low level during this time – almost 350 thousand MWh, Ukrainian energy and climate think tank DiXi Group reported with reference to the open data portal Energy Map.
“In 2024, Ukraine imported 4436.6 thousand MWh of electricity, which was the highest figure for the last 11 years (actual data before 2014 are not publicly available). At the same time, electricity exports reached a historic low of 348.5 thousand MWh,” says the review provided by DiXi Group to the Energoreforma project.
According to the center’s analysts, the main reason for the abnormal figures was Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
They note that from March 22 to December 25, 2024, the Russian Federation carried out 13 massive missile and drone attacks, firing 846 missiles of various types and 866 UAVs.
Of these, 230 missiles (27%) and 25 UAVs (3%) were not shot down by air defense forces or neutralized by radar systems, probably hitting their targets.
Imports peaked in June and July, when the shelling was compounded by the heat wave and the traditional scheduled maintenance of some power units to prepare them for the fall and winter.
“In June, imports reached 858.4 thousand MWh, which is 6% more than was purchased for the whole of 2023 (806.4 thousand MWh), and is the highest monthly figure since 2014 (according to available data),” the review says.
In 2024, Ukraine received 38.4% of imported electricity from Hungary (1705 thousand MWh). Ukraine imported 1036.5 thousand MWh from Slovakia (23.4% of the total), 819.6 thousand MWh from Romania (18.5%), 636.6 thousand MWh from Poland (14.3%) and 238.9 thousand MWh from Moldova (5.4%).
Electricity exports in 2024 amounted to 348.5 thousand MWh, which is 5% less than in 2023 and 90% less than in pre-war 2021.
During the year, exports were carried out to all available destinations. Most electricity was exported to Poland (88.4 thousand MWh, or 25.4%). Hungary received 76.6 thousand MWh (22%), Romania – 71.2 thousand MWh (20.4%), Moldova – 56.8 thousand MWh (16.3%) and Slovakia – 55.5 thousand MWh (15.9%).
The peak volume of exports was recorded before the start of massive shelling – in March, during which Ukraine exported 154.1 thousand MWh (44% of the annual volume). For 140 days, from May 12 to September 29, electricity exports from Ukraine were completely stopped. In total, exports were carried out for 151 days (41% of the year), while for 215 days (59%) there were zero exports. Imports, on the other hand, practically never stopped – its complete absence was recorded only on two days of the year.
