From June 2025 through May 2026, Mongolia’s electricity consumption was overwhelmingly supplied by fossil fuels: coal accounted for about 92%, or more than nine-tenths of the total. Low-carbon electricity supplied the remaining 8%, entirely from wind in the provided figures. This leaves Mongolia with a small clean electricity share and substantial scope to replace coal-fired electricity, reducing the climate impacts and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Mongolia?

The latest figures do not show Mongolia surpassing its previous electricity consumption record. Electricity consumption in 2026 was about 2,810 kWh per person, roughly 230 kWh—or 7%—below the record of 3,036 kWh reached in 2024. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 232 kWh per person, around 7% below its 2021 peak of 249 kWh. These shortfalls are concerning, although comparisons with historical records alone cannot establish whether consumption grew or declined over the latest year. Mongolia needs renewed growth in clean electricity to support electrification and future demand, including from AI.

Suggestions

Mongolia can increase low-carbon electricity generation by expanding wind and solar while considering nuclear electricity as a dependable complement. Relevant examples include the US states of Wyoming and North Dakota, where wind supplies about 31% and 36% of electricity generation, respectively—useful benchmarks for Mongolia’s expansive, windy landscapes. For solar, Mongolia could learn from the US state of Nevada, where solar supplies about 35%, and neighboring China, where it supplies about 12%, drawing on experience with large-scale deployment and grid connections. Nuclear also deserves serious consideration: it supplies about 38% of electricity in Finland and 29% in Armenia. These regions offer lessons in building a diversified clean electricity system, supported by transmission investment, workforce development, and long-term planning.

History

Mongolia’s recorded low-carbon electricity growth has largely come from wind, with smaller solar contributions. Hydro showed no reported change in 2009–2011 or in the later listed years. Wind generation increased by about 0.1 TWh in each of 2013 and 2014, followed by a larger 0.2 TWh gain in 2017. In 2019 and 2021, wind and solar each added about 0.1 TWh. Progress then faltered in 2022, when wind generation fell by 0.1 TWh while hydro and solar showed no change. Encouragingly, wind growth resumed with a 0.1 TWh increase in 2024 and accelerated to 0.3 TWh in 2025—the largest annual gain listed. Sustaining that momentum, alongside solar expansion and consideration of nuclear electricity, would help Mongolia build a much stronger low-carbon supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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