Albania has achieved 100% low-carbon electricity, with no fossil-fuel electricity in the supplied mix for August 2025 through July 2026. Hydropower supplies about 82% and solar contributes the remaining 18%, or almost a fifth. Albania is also a significant net exporter of electricity, helping neighboring regions lower their emissions. Its next challenge is to electrify transport, heating and industry, which will require much more clean electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in Albania?

Electricity consumption in Albania is growing strongly. The latest 2026 figure is 3,880 kWh per person, about 540 kWh above the previous record of roughly 3,340 kWh in 2025—a rise of around 16%. Low-carbon electricity generation has also reached 3,880 kWh per person, exceeding its previous record of about 3,160 kWh in 2023 by roughly 720 kWh, or 23%. These new highs are encouraging progress toward supplying greater electricity demand with clean generation.

Suggestions

Albania can build on this achievement by expanding solar, which already supplies a substantial share of its electricity. More rooftop installations and larger solar projects, supported by stronger grid connections and electricity storage, could increase clean electricity supplies for households, transport and industry. Alongside further solar expansion, Albania should consider nuclear electricity as a complementary low-carbon option for meeting long-term demand and supporting continued electrification.

History

Albania’s low-carbon electricity history has been dominated by large year-to-year changes in hydropower generation. Output rose by 1.5 TWh in 1996. During the 2000s, declines in 2001 and 2007 were followed by gains in 2003, 2008 and 2009. The 2010s brought particularly sharp swings: increases of 2.4 TWh in 2010 and 2.2 TWh in 2013 alternated with substantial falls, including 3.4 TWh in 2011. Gains in 2015 and 2016 preceded a 3.3 TWh drop in 2017, a 4 TWh rebound in 2018 and another 3.3 TWh decline in 2019. More recently, generation increased by 3.6 TWh in 2021, fell by 2.1 TWh in 2022, rose by 1.8 TWh in 2023 and fell by 1.2 TWh in 2024, before gaining 1.9 TWh in 2026. Sustained expansion of clean electricity would help turn these uneven annual changes into stronger long-term growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.