From October 2025 through September 2026, more than half of Croatia’s electricity consumption—about 56%—was supplied by low-carbon generation. Hydropower contributed about 28%, wind 15%, solar 9%, and biofuels roughly 5%. Fossil fuels supplied around 17%, primarily gas at 12% and coal at nearly 5%, while net imports covered another 27%. The generation mix behind those imports is not specified, so they should be kept separate from the low-carbon and fossil categories. Croatia thus has a substantial clean electricity base, but significant scope to increase domestic low-carbon generation and reduce reliance on fossil electricity, which contributes to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Croatia?

Electricity consumption per person is growing: the latest 2026 figure reached about 5,250 kWh, surpassing the previous record of roughly 5,100 kWh in 2025. That is an increase of 144 kWh per person, or almost 3%. This growth is welcome as electrification and expanding digital infrastructure increase electricity needs. However, low-carbon electricity generation has not kept pace with its own historical peak: the latest figure of about 2,920 kWh per person is 196 kWh, or roughly 6%, below the 2023 record of 3,120 kWh. Record electricity consumption alongside clean generation below its peak highlights the need for renewed low-carbon growth.

Suggestions

Croatia should expand its established wind sector while accelerating solar and considering new nuclear generation, including regional cooperation. Nearby examples offer useful guidance: Hungary generates about 23% of its electricity from solar, while North Macedonia reaches 40%, demonstrating considerable potential for solar expansion in the region. For wind, Croatia could learn from Lithuania, where wind supplies about 41% of electricity, and Denmark, where it supplies nearly 60%. Nuclear also deserves a central place in long-term planning: neighboring Slovenia generates about 40% of its electricity from nuclear, Hungary about 30%, and Slovakia roughly two-thirds. Learning from these regions could help Croatia build a larger, more diversified clean electricity supply to meet growing demand.

History

Croatia’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is dominated by large year-to-year hydropower fluctuations. In the 1990s, gains of around 1–2 TWh in 1991, 1996, and 1999 were interrupted by a 2 TWh fall in 1997. The 2000s followed a similar pattern, with substantial increases in 2004 and 2009 offset by declines in 2002 and 2007. Volatility intensified in the 2010s: a 1.7 TWh increase in 2010 was followed by a steep 4.1 TWh drop in 2011, then a 3.7 TWh rebound in 2013. Further declines in 2015 and 2017 preceded a 2.3 TWh recovery in 2018 and another fall in 2019. More recently, gains in 2021 and 2023 alternated with losses in 2022, 2024, and 2025; the last two declines together totaled 2.6 TWh. These repeated setbacks underline the importance of expanding wind, solar, and nuclear alongside Croatia’s substantial hydropower base.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.