Electricity in Belarus in 2024
In 2024, Belarus's electricity consumption predominantly relies on a mix of fossil fuels and low-carbon energy sources, with each almost equally contributing to the country's energy portfolio. Fossil energy, primarily driven by gas, accounts for more than half of the electricity consumption at close to 60%. On the low-carbon side, clean energy sources make up about 39% of electricity generation, with a large majority coming from nuclear energy, which provides over a third of the electricity. Other green energy sources such as biofuels and net imports contribute minimally, at just over 1% each. This mix highlights Belarus's significant dependence on fossil fuels while showcasing progress towards incorporating more sustainable energy sources.
Suggestions
To further enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Belarus can focus on expanding its already significant nuclear capacity while exploring successful case studies in other countries. The examples of France and Slovakia, where nuclear energy provides 68% and 62% of the electricity respectively, demonstrate the potential for nuclear energy to substantially cut down reliance on fossil fuels. By expanding its nuclear infrastructure, Belarus could follow in their footsteps to achieve higher clean energy percentages. Additionally, investing in solar energy, drawing inspiration from countries like Lebanon or Hungary, which generate 31% and 19% of their electricity from solar respectively, could provide a substantial boost. Wind energy is yet another domain to explore, learning from Denmark, where it accounts for 52% of generation, or from neighboring Lithuania, where it contributes 26%.
History
Historically, the development of low-carbon electricity in Belarus shows a notable increase, particularly in recent years with the rise of nuclear energy. Since the early 2010s, the country has seen gradual but steady growth in hydro, wind, and solar energies. Although the initial steps in wind energy were minimal, with incremental growth recorded in 2016 and 2019, solar energy experienced slight but continuous augmentation in 2017 and 2018. The trajectory changed significantly with the introduction of nuclear energy in 2021, leading to substantial increases in electricity generation of around 5.4 TWh, despite a slight dip in 2022, which was more than corrected in 2023 with a sizable increase of 7.1 TWh followed by 4.8 TWh in 2024. This pattern underscores Belarus's commitment to transitioning towards cleaner energy sources, highlighting nuclear energy as a cornerstone of its low-carbon electricity strategy.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.