Luxembourg's current electricity consumption profile is dominated by net imports, which make up about 77% of total consumption. Low-carbon sources account for about 21% of the electricity mix, which includes contributions from biofuels, wind, solar, and hydropower. Within the low-carbon category, biofuels and wind each contribute nearly 7%, while solar energy offers about 5%, and hydropower adds a modest 2%. Fossil energy accounts for a very small portion, at a little over 2%, indicating a commendable shift towards cleaner energy solutions. Natural gas also plays a minor role, comprising about 1% of electricity consumption.
Is Electricity Growing in Luxembourg?
Despite a strong inclination towards low-carbon sources, the total electricity consumption in Luxembourg has actually decreased compared to historical records. In 2024, the average electricity consumption was about 10,254 kWh per person, marking a decline of about 6,793 kWh from the peak consumption in 2010. Even the low-carbon electricity generation per person has decreased, with the latest figure being 2,120 kWh, which is about 1,033 kWh lower compared to 2010. This decline in electricity consumption and generation, especially in a world that increasingly depends on electrification for technologies like AI, is a concerning trend that needs to be addressed in Luxembourg.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Luxembourg could take cues from countries that have effectively leveraged nuclear and solar energy. With France generating 68% of its electricity from nuclear power, Luxembourg could benefit from considering nuclear energy as a substantial part of its electricity mix. Similarly, Denmark's successful wind power initiatives, contributing to more than half of its electricity, offer valuable lessons. While nuclear corresponds to Luxembourg's need for a reliable energy source, the growth of solar energy, as seen in places like Chile and Greece, also presents opportunities for Luxembourg to expand its clean energy capabilities further.
History
Historically, Luxembourg's low-carbon electricity generation has experienced fluctuations, especially with hydropower. The 1990s saw small increases and decreases in hydropower, with notable declines around the late 1990s and early 2000s, where patterns of increment and reduction effectively nullified progress. The post-2010 period witnessed larger swings, with significant increments in some years followed by substantial drops in subsequent years. More recently, there has been a broader adoption of other low-carbon technologies such as wind and solar, albeit in smaller increments. This mixed but ultimately stagnant history underscores the critical need for Luxembourg to invest in stable and scalable low-carbon energy solutions like nuclear and solar to avoid the volatility experienced in prior decades.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.