In Montenegro, electricity consumption in 2024 has shown a significant inclination toward low-carbon energy sources, with more than half (59.31%) of the electricity generated coming from clean sources. Hydropower dominates this category, contributing nearly half (49.2%) of the total electricity consumption, followed by smaller contributions from wind (approximately 8%) and solar (slightly more than 2%). However, fossil fuels still account for almost 40% of Montenegro's electricity consumption, relying entirely on coal. This indicates a significant dependence on fossil energy despite the majority stake held by low-carbon sources, highlighting Montenegro's need to further transition towards cleaner and more sustainable electricity generation.
Is Electricity Growing in Montenegro?
The trend in electricity consumption in Montenegro raises some concerns, with the current average per capita consumption standing at 5,935 kWh, a substantial decline from the peak of 7,604 kWh in 2006. This reflects a clear reduction of 1,669 kWh per person over nearly two decades. Furthermore, the share of low-carbon electricity per capita has also diminished, with the latest figures showing 3,520 kWh per person, down by 831 kWh from the record in 2010. These reductions underscore a worrying stagnation or decline in both total and low-carbon electricity generation, suggesting a need to reinvigorate growth in clean electricity consumption to support future demands as Montenegro seeks greater electrification in various facets of its economy and daily life.
Suggestions
To augment low-carbon electricity generation, Montenegro can look to successful examples from similar nations. Countries like Slovakia and Slovenia have heavily invested in nuclear energy, which provides more than a third of their electricity needs. On the other hand, Denmark's impressive utilization of wind energy, contributing over half of its electricity, sets a benchmark Montenegro could strive toward, given its current capability in this sector. Meanwhile, Greece and Cyprus have shown significant advancements in solar power generation at 21% and 19%, respectively, indicating a pathway for Montenegro to expand its solar capabilities. Learning from these successes, Montenegro should consider bolstering its solar and potentially nuclear capacities to reduce reliance on coal and align with global trends toward sustainable, clean electricity generation.
History
Examining Montenegro's history with low-carbon electricity generation reveals a pattern of fluctuations in hydropower output over the years. The early 2000s saw minor declines and increments, such as slight drops in 2006 and 2007 followed by increases from 2008 to 2010. However, 2011 marked a sharp decline with a loss of 1.5 TWh in hydropower generation, influencing subsequent years' outputs. The later years from 2013 to 2018 have seen some recovery efforts with notable increases, especially in 2018 with a 1.1 TWh rise, balanced by occasional decreases. The introduction of wind power in 2019 with a modest start of 0.2 TWh and subsequent steady hydro improvements in recent years represent positive but cautious progress. To foster a more reliable and resilient low-carbon electricity infrastructure, Montenegro stands at a crucial juncture to broaden its scope with a wider mix of sustainable sources such as nuclear and solar energy.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.