Over the past year, from October 2024 to September 2025, electricity consumption in Bosnia & Herzegovina has indicated a clear reliance on fossil fuels, with more than half of electricity generated from coal, which contributes significantly to pollution and climate change. On the clean energy side, Bosnia & Herzegovina derives almost a third of its electricity from hydropower, showcasing a considerable potential for environmentally friendly energy sources within the region. Solar and wind energy, however, play a much smaller role, providing slightly over 5% of the electricity combined. This highlights a significant opportunity for the country to expand its clean energy portfolio and reduce dependence on coal power.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, ENTSOE, Eurostat and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Bosnia & Herzegovina?
Despite the world's growing emphasis on clean electricity, Bosnia & Herzegovina's overall electricity consumption per person has decreased significantly from its previous high in 2018. Currently, at roughly 3,740 kWh per person, it has fallen by nearly 2,000 kWh compared to the historic peak. Similarly, clean electricity generation per person, primarily through hydropower, has seen a downturn, reducing by around 750 kWh since the 2023 record. This decline is concerning, especially when electrification and digital economies demand growing electricity consumption paired with sustainable sources to power future developments.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Bosnia & Herzegovina can look to successful examples from around the world. Nuclear energy, as observed in Slovakia and Slovenia where nuclear power constitutes a significant percentage of their electricity generation, could become a cornerstone of Bosnia & Herzegovina's clean energy strategy. Furthermore, emulating advances made in solar energy by countries such as Lebanon and Hungary, where solar provides a substantial share of electricity, could bolster Bosnia & Herzegovina’s solar capacity. Wind energy also offers a promising path, with regions like Denmark demonstrating the potential of wind energy to support a cleaner electricity grid. By learning from these regions, Bosnia & Herzegovina can develop a robust mix of nuclear and solar energy, supplemented by wind if possible, to significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
History
Historically, Bosnia & Herzegovina's hydropower sector has experienced varied growth, particularly noticeable in the 1990s when changes were moderately positive. In the early 1990s, hydropower saw fluctuations, initially dropping in 1992 but bouncing back by 1996. The early 2000s saw another uptick followed by a period of decline into the late 2000s, regaining some momentum in 2010. However, the last decade reveals a pattern of irregular growth with more frequent declines, most noticeably in 2011 and again between 2017 and 2022. Looking ahead, the country must aim for a more stable growth trajectory in low-carbon electricity generation by leveraging untapped resources, notably nuclear and solar, alongside their existing hydropower infrastructure.
