Electricity in Croatia in 2023/2024

Currently, Croatia's electricity consumption from October 2023 to September 2024 is primarily powered by low-carbon energy sources, accounting for approximately 56% of the total. Of this, hydropower makes up the majority, contributing over 36%. Wind energy also plays a notable role by providing nearly 14% of the electricity. In contrast, fossil fuels, although comprising less than a fifth of the total consumption, still contribute to environmental concerns; natural gas is the largest fossil fuel source at around 16%, and coal adds just over 3%. Solar energy remains underutilized, generating a little over 1% of the electricity, suggesting potential for growth. Net imports also form a substantial part of Croatia's energy mix, accounting for about 25%, reflecting dependency on external sources.

Suggestions

To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Croatia should consider expanding its wind energy infrastructure, given its existing significant contributions. Drawing lessons from countries like Denmark, where wind provides 61% of the electricity, could prove beneficial. Additionally, exploring nuclear power, as seen in neighboring countries like Slovakia and Ukraine, with more than half of their electricity coming from nuclear, could provide a stable and substantial addition to Croatia's clean energy portfolio. Emulating Greece and Spain in solar energy utilization, which covers about 22% and 18% of their electricity needs respectively, would also diversify and bolster Croatia's clean energy capacity. By investing in these sustainable sources, Croatia can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, mitigating the negative impacts of climate change and air pollution.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Croatia, especially hydropower, reveals a pattern of significant fluctuations over the past decades. In the early 1990s, there was notable variability with an increase of 1.6 TWh in 1991, followed by a decline of -1.2 TWh in 1992. Similarly, during the late 1990s, hydropower fluctuated sharply, experiencing an increase of 2.2 TWh in 1996 and a decrease of -2 TWh in 1997. The first decade of the 2000s also saw ups and downs, with a peak increase of 2.3 TWh in 2004 and a significant drop of -4.1 TWh in 2011. More recently, from 2021 to 2023, hydropower generation showed some stability with moderate increases and decreases, such as a rise of 1.5 TWh in 2021 and a drop of -1.7 TWh in 2022. These historical patterns reflect the dependency and inherent variability of hydropower, underscoring the need for a diversified low-carbon energy strategy.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources