Electricity in Luxembourg in 2023/2024

Currently, electricity consumption in Luxembourg relies heavily on net imports, which account for more than 73% of its total electricity. Low-carbon sources contribute around 25%, with wind being the most significant, providing almost 11% of the electricity. Biofuels and solar each contribute just over 6%, while hydropower adds a little more than 2% to the mix. Fossil energy plays a very minor role, with gas accounting for approximately 1.5% of the electricity. This period, from October 2023 to September 2024, shows that Luxembourg is largely dependent on external sources for its electricity, while its internal efforts are focused on wind and, to a lesser extent, solar and biofuels as clean energy solutions.

Suggestions

To boost its low-carbon electricity generation, Luxembourg could significantly expand its wind energy capacity. Given that wind energy already contributes a sizable portion to their electricity mix, scaling up this technology could offer substantial gains. Luxembourg can look to countries like Denmark, where wind power generates an impressive 61% of electricity, or even the Netherlands with 28% coming from wind. Additionally, Luxembourg could explore nuclear energy systems by learning from France, where nuclear energy generates 67% of electricity, or Slovakia at 60%. Replicating such systems on a smaller scale can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions, leading to a greener energy landscape.

History

Historically, Luxembourg's journey in low-carbon electricity has seen various shifts. In the 1990s, there were fluctuations in hydropower generation, with a notable increase of 0.8 TWh in 1990, and varied changes in the subsequent years. The early 2000s continued this trend, but with some significant decreases, such as a 0.6 TWh reduction in 2000 and a substantial 0.9 TWh drop in 2009. The hydroelectric sector experienced growth in the early 2010s, especially in 2010 with a 1.4 TWh surge, although it saw a downturn again by 2013. Wind energy began to play a role in 2017, increasing by 0.1 TWh, followed by biofuels in 2020 with a similar increment. More recently, in 2022 and 2023, both solar and wind energies saw positive changes, marking a gradual shift towards a diversified low-carbon portfolio.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources