Electricity in Belarus in 2021

As of 2021, fossil fuels, particularly gas, are the dominant source of electricity in Belarus, accounting for almost 84% of the country's energy consumption. In comparison, low-carbon energy makes up just over 16% of the total. Among the low-carbon options, nuclear energy is the primary contributor, supplying around 13% of the country's electricity. A nominal amount of electricity is generated through biofuels, which contribute slightly more than 1%.

Suggestions

To increase the share of low-carbon electricity, Belarus could consider expanding its existing nuclear power plants. Several countries with similar demographics have successfully used nuclear power to yield a significant portion of their electricity. For instance, France, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Switzerland generate 66%, 61%, 58%, and 50% of their electricity from nuclear power, respectively. These cases could serve as possible benchmarks for Belarus. Alongside expanding nuclear capacity, exploring other low-carbon technologies like wind power, as demonstrated by Denmark and Uruguay with 59% and 40% generation share respectively, could also contribute significantly towards Belarus' transition to a cleaner energy mix.

History

Turning to the historical evolution of low-carbon electricity in Belarus, it is evident that there have been modest gains over the years. The production of biofuel-powered electricity remained stable from its inception in 2009 through 2019, with a minor uptick noted in 2020. Hydroelectric power saw a small but perceptible increase in 2013 and 2017. Solar and wind power were initiated in 2016, with solar energy recording slight growth in the subsequent years of 2017 and 2018. The most significant increase in electricity generation was seen in 2021, with nuclear energy providing an additional 5.4 TWh compared to the previous year. This increase in nuclear power generation underscores its potential as a significant contributor to Belarus's low-carbon electricity landscape.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources