From October 2025 through September 2026, low-carbon sources supplied about 63% of Montenegro’s electricity consumption. Hydropower accounted for half of the total, wind for about 9%, and solar for roughly 4%. Fossil electricity, entirely from coal, supplied almost a third, while net imports covered the remaining 5.5%. Montenegro therefore has a strong clean electricity foundation, but coal still plays a substantial role, contributing to climate change and air pollution. The data do not identify the sources behind imported electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in Montenegro?

Montenegro’s latest figures remain well below its historical electricity consumption and clean generation records, although these comparisons alone do not establish the latest year-on-year trend. Electricity consumption in 2026 was about 5,700 kWh per person, compared with roughly 7,600 kWh in 2006—a decline of about 1,900 kWh per person, or 25%. Low-carbon electricity generation reached about 3,600 kWh per person, around 700 kWh below the 2010 record of approximately 4,400 kWh, a shortfall of 17%. These gaps are concerning: expanding clean electricity generation would help Montenegro support electrification and future demand, including from AI.

Suggestions

Montenegro can build on hydropower by accelerating solar deployment, expanding wind generation, and considering nuclear electricity through domestic development or regional partnerships. Nearby regions offer useful examples: North Macedonia generates about 40% of its electricity from solar, Albania about 18%, and Greece roughly 17%, compared with Montenegro’s 4% share of consumption. Greece also generates about 21% of its electricity from wind, demonstrating scope to build beyond Montenegro’s current 9%. For nuclear, Slovenia generates about 43% of its electricity from this clean source and Bulgaria about 36%; their experience provides relevant regional lessons in developing a diversified low-carbon electricity supply. Investment in grids, storage, and regional connections would help Montenegro put additional clean generation to use.

History

The supplied history of Montenegro’s low-carbon electricity shows repeated swings in hydropower generation rather than sustained growth. After a decline of 0.5 TWh in 2007, generation rose each year from 2008 through 2010, gaining a combined 1.5 TWh. A sharp 1.5 TWh fall in 2011 was followed by a combined recovery of 1.3 TWh in 2012–2013. From 2014 through 2020, declines outweighed gains, despite notable rebounds of 0.4 TWh in 2016 and 1.1 TWh in 2018. The same uneven pattern continued in 2021–2026: increases of 0.6 TWh in 2021 and 0.8 TWh in 2023 alternated with declines, before a welcome 0.4 TWh recovery in 2026. This history strengthens the case for adding solar, wind, and nuclear electricity alongside hydropower to achieve sustained clean electricity growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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