Electricity in Croatia in 2023

In 2023, Croatia's electricity consumption shows a significant inclination towards low-carbon energy sources, with a bit more than 60% of its electricity being generated from these clean sources. Hydropower alone constitutes substantial part of this, contributing nearly 42%. Wind power also plays a vital role, supplying over 13% of the electricity. Solar and biofuels provide smaller shares, around 1% and 6% respectively. On the other hand, fossil fuels contribute about 28% to the total electricity generation, with gas being the largest single source at nearly 20%, followed by coal at almost 7%. Additionally, Croatia relies on net imports for about 10% of its electricity needs. This mix highlights a commendable effort towards clean energy, yet there remains scope for minimizing fossil fuel dependency further.

Suggestions

To boost the share of low-carbon electricity, Croatia should focus on expanding its existing wind energy infrastructure, given its current success in this area. Other countries have successfully integrated higher shares of low-carbon energy, providing valuable lessons. For instance, Denmark, which generates more than half of its electricity from wind, shows that significant investments in wind energy infrastructure can pay off. Furthermore, learning from nuclear success stories such as Slovakia, where nuclear energy provides 62% of the electricity, Croatia could potentially invest in nuclear energy to significantly cut down fossil fuel usage. Additionally, the adoption of solar energy, similar to countries like Greece and Netherlands, where approximately 17% of the electricity comes from solar power, could complement the energy mix well.

History

Historically, Croatia has seen significant variations in its low-carbon electricity generation, primarily driven by hydropower. The early 1990s witnessed a drastic fluctuation, with a notable increase in 1991 followed by a decline in 1992. Moving into the mid and late 1990s, hydropower production saw considerable variability, such as the rise in 1996 and the decline in 1997. This pattern continued into the early 2000s. The mid-2000s saw substantial deviations, peaking with a sharp increase in 2004 followed by a decline in 2007. More recently, hydropower has continued to fluctuate, with significant changes in 2011 and 2013. The latest data from 2023 shows a positive shift, with an increase of 2.4 TWh in hydropower generation. This historical trend demonstrates the importance of diversifying low-carbon energy sources to maintain a stable and sustainable electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources