Electricity in Belarus in 2021
For the year 2021, electricity consumption in Belarus heavily leaned towards fossil energy, with gas accounting for almost 84% of the total share. Despite the considerable dependence on fossil fuels, the nation is not left out of the global transition towards low-carbon electricity generation, holding a low, but promising, 16% share in the energy mix from clean sources. Nuclear power firmly stood at the helm of this transition, supplying slightly above 13%, while biofuels contributed little more than 1%. Hydropower, wind and solar energy had less than 1% contribution each, showing there's still much room for expansion into these clean energy sources. Interestingly, despite the dominance of fossil fuels in Belarus' energy mix, the country remains a net exporter of electricity.
Suggestions
Looking forward, Belarus can increase its low-carbon electricity generation by expanding existing nuclear power plants, considering similar strides have been made by countries like France, Ukraine, and Slovakia, where nuclear energy constitutes 61%, 58%, and 57% of their electricity generation respectively. In addition to the already impressive nuclear capabilities, Belarus can also learn from countries like Denmark and Ireland who have successfully managed to generate more than half and a third of their total electricity from wind energy respectively. This strategy would allow Belarus to diversify its clean energy portfolio, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, and continue to be a player in the global electricity export market.
History
Mapping out the history of low-carbon electricity in Belarus, the journey has been cautious yet progressive. The start of the 21st century saw absolutely no generation from biofuels, wind, solar and hydropower. However, the next decade brought about visible changes, with a slight gain in hydropower generation in 2013. 2017 marked another significant milestone with an increase in solar and hydropower generation. The years following 2017 saw the power of wind and biofuels being harnessed, albeit at a nominal rate. Interestingly, 2021 recorded a significant leap in nuclear energy generation with a hefty addition of 5.4 TWh, substantially surpassing the aggregate addition from other low-carbon sources in the past decade. This giant stride in nuclear power generation sets the tone for a promising future in low-carbon electricity generation for Belarus.