From April 2025 through March 2026, fossil fuels supplied more than half of Belarus’s electricity consumption—about 57%—while low-carbon sources supplied roughly 43%. Gas alone accounted for about 47%, making it the largest individual source. Nuclear power provided almost 38% of electricity and was by far the largest clean source, followed by hydropower at about 3% and wind at just over 1%. Belarus therefore has a substantial low-carbon electricity foundation, but fossil fuels still dominate its supply, leaving considerable scope to reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution through more clean generation.

Is Electricity Growing in Belarus?

The latest figures do not show electricity consumption reaching new heights. In 2026, consumption stood at about 4,950 kWh per person, roughly 140 kWh—or 3%—below the record of around 5,090 kWh set in 2024. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 2,125 kWh per person, around 45 kWh—or 2%—below its 2025 record. These comparisons indicate a retreat from previous peaks, rather than establishing a continuous year-by-year decline. Nevertheless, the shortfall is concerning: Belarus needs growing clean electricity supplies to support electrification, economic activity and emerging demand, including AI.

Suggestions

Belarus should build on its substantial nuclear contribution by expanding its existing nuclear generating capacity, while accelerating solar and wind development. Slovakia and France demonstrate how nuclear can supply around two-thirds of electricity, offering useful examples for strengthening Belarus’s clean electricity backbone. Nearby Lithuania, where wind supplies about 41% of electricity, provides a particularly relevant regional example for wind development. Solar also deserves a larger role: Latvia generates about 21% of its electricity from solar, while Poland reaches about 13%, showing that solar can make meaningful contributions in Belarus’s wider region. Combining nuclear expansion with solar and wind investment, stronger grids and greater operational flexibility would help increase electricity availability while displacing fossil generation.

History

Historically, Belarus’s low-carbon electricity growth began with relatively small additions before nuclear transformed its scale. During the 2010s, hydropower increased by 0.1 TWh in 2013 and 0.3 TWh in 2017, while solar added 0.1 TWh in both 2017 and 2018; wind added 0.1 TWh in 2019. Biofuels also contributed to the low-carbon mix, with gains totaling 0.4 TWh across 2019–2020. Nuclear then became the principal driver, adding 5.4 TWh in 2021, 7.1 TWh in 2023 and 4.8 TWh in 2024. Across the listed annual changes from 2021 through 2026, nuclear generation increased by a net 16.3 TWh. In 2025, further diversification brought additions of 0.9 TWh from hydropower and 0.4 TWh from wind, alongside another 0.4 TWh from nuclear. The overarching lesson is that nuclear has delivered Belarus’s largest clean electricity gains, providing a strong foundation for further expansion alongside solar and wind.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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