Electricity in Mongolia in 2024
In 2024, the electricity consumption profile in Mongolia is heavily reliant on fossil energy, with more than two-thirds of its electricity generated from coal, accounting for roughly 68%. Fossil fuels collectively make up almost three-quarters of Mongolia's electricity sources. Clean, low-carbon energy, while present, contributes a small portion. Wind energy accounts for around 5%, while solar comprises nearly 2%, together amounting to close to 8% of the country's electricity generation. In addition, about a fifth of Mongolia's electricity is obtained from net imports. The reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal, is concerning given the environmental challenges they pose, highlighting the urgent need to transition towards more sustainable energy sources.
Is Electricity Growing in Mongolia?
When examining Mongolia's electricity growth, there is an evident increase in overall consumption. In 2024, the per capita electricity consumption reached 3036 kWh, surpassing the previous year's record of 2946 kWh per person by 90 kWh. However, this positive trend in overall electricity use is not mirrored in Mongolia's low-carbon electricity generation, which has decreased from 249 kWh per person in 2021 to 232 kWh in 2024. This reduction of 16 kWh in low-carbon electricity is a step back from sustainable development goals, especially at a time when the world needs to embrace cleaner electricity to combat climate change vigorously. Growing total electricity use while low-carbon uptake lags behind underscores a troublesome reliance on fossil fuels.
Suggestions
To increase Mongolia's low-carbon electricity generation, lessons can be learned from successful regions across the globe. For wind energy, places like Iowa and South Dakota demonstrate how vigorous investment and policy support can lead to wind contributing more than 60% to electricity generation. Similarly, the heavy investment in nuclear as seen in countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear energy provides about two-thirds of their electricity, could offer Mongolia a path towards a greener and more sustainable future. Investment in both solar and nuclear energy should be prioritized for their stable and clean energy potentials. Regions like Lebanon and Nevada highlight the potential for solar energy, with solar making up around 30% of electricity in these areas. All these examples indicate that a strategic focus on expanding low-carbon electricity sources can significantly transform Mongolia's energy landscape.
History
Mongolia's journey towards low-carbon electricity generation has been modest but promising, yet fraught with challenges. In the early 2010s, progress was nearly stagnant, particularly in hydro energy, which showed no change from 2009 to 2016. It wasn't until 2014 and later years that wind and solar energy saw small but welcome increments, around 0.1 and 0.2 TWh, highlighting Mongolia's potential in expanding clean energy sources. Unfortunately, a decline was noticed in 2022 for wind energy by 0.1 TWh, marking a deviation from earlier progress. Therefore, focusing on the sustained growth witnessed in the late 2010s, particularly in wind and solar, should be a priority to steer Mongolia back onto a greener path. Looking at these historical patterns, it's evident that Mongolia must emphasize accelerating the adoption of low-carbon energy to improve its energy security and reduce environmental impacts.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.