In 2022, Belarus relied heavily on fossil fuels for its electricity, with nearly 85% of its electricity generation coming from fossil sources, predominantly natural gas, which made up about 80% of the total share. Low-carbon energy sources accounted for about 15% of the electricity, with nuclear power being the primary contributor at around 12%. The rest of the low-carbon electricity came from biofuels (about 1.5%) and hydropower (about 1%). This significant reliance on fossil fuels highlights the need for Belarus to transition towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly electricity generation to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Belarus could expand its existing nuclear infrastructure, which has already proven to be a substantial source of clean electricity for the country. Looking at successful models, Belarus can draw inspiration from countries with similar conditions and higher contributions from nuclear power. For instance, Slovakia generates about 60% of its electricity from nuclear energy, and Ukraine's nuclear share is 55%. By adopting best practices and advanced technologies from these countries, Belarus could significantly enhance its nuclear capacity. Additionally, Belarus could explore supplementing its nuclear expansion with solar and wind projects, taking cues from countries like Denmark and the United Kingdom, which have successfully integrated high proportions of wind energy into their grids.
Historically, Belarus has had a slow but steady journey toward increasing its low-carbon electricity generation. There was a notable change in 2017 when hydropower expanded by 0.3 TWh and solar energy by 0.1 TWh. Subsequently, biofuels saw a gradual increase, especially in 2020 with an addition of 0.3 TWh. The most significant leap occurred in 2021 with the introduction of 5.4 TWh from nuclear power, though this saw a slight decline of 1.1 TWh in 2022. Despite these developments, wind and solar energy have seen minimal growth. The emphasis on nuclear energy, given the substantial increase in 2021, suggests that Belarus appreciates the reliability and sustainability of nuclear power as a cornerstone of its low-carbon strategy. Moving forward, boosting nuclear and integrating more wind and solar could be key to significantly increasing the share of clean energy in its electricity mix.