In 2024, Belarus' electricity consumption is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with fossil energy constituting about 60% of the total. The vast majority of this comes from gas, which alone makes up almost 59% of the electricity supply. On the clean energy front, low-carbon sources account for about 39% of electricity generation. Notably, nuclear energy is a major contributor to this low-carbon percentage, providing 36% of the electricity consumed, which highlights its critical role in supplying sustainable energy. Biofuels and net imports provide a very marginal share, with each comprising around 1% of the total electricity mix.
Is Electricity Growing in Belarus?
Belarus is experiencing a significant rise in electricity consumption, reaching 5092 kWh per person in 2024, surpassing its previous record from 1991 of 4821 kWh per person. This increase of 271 kWh per person signifies not just growth but potentially a leap towards modernized energy infrastructure to meet rising demands. The growth in low-carbon electricity is even more encouraging, with the latest generation figures at 1990 kWh per person, up from 1434 kWh per person in 2023. This substantial increase by 556 kWh per person over just one year demonstrates remarkable progress in expanding sustainable energy sources.
Suggestions
To further bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Belarus can focus on expanding its existing nuclear capacity. Given the substantial contribution of nuclear power to the country's clean electricity, it is well-positioned to lead future growth. Moreover, the country can draw lessons from regions that have achieved significant low-carbon progress. France and Slovakia, for instance, have set impressive benchmarks with nuclear power providing 69% and 64% of their electricity, respectively. Additionally, taking inspiration from countries like Lithuania, where wind energy accounts for 33% of the electricity supply, Belarus could explore wind energy as a complement to its strong nuclear foundation. Combined, these strategies can help Belarus enhance its sustainable energy generation portfolio and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Belarus reflects a journey of ups and downs, yet it shows promising trends in recent years. Throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, modest growth was noticed in hydro, wind, and solar power, with solar and biofuels each contributing incremental gains. In 2021, a dramatic shift occurred with an impressive increase in nuclear electricity generation by 5.4 TWh, followed by highs in 2023 and 2024 with 7.1 TWh and 4.8 TWh increases, respectively. These advances underscore the commitment to nuclear expansion, albeit there was a slight dip in 2022. Collectively, these developments emphasize the country's resilience and potential to continue amplifying its low-carbon electricity footprint, paving the way for greener, more sustainable future energy solutions.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.