Electricity in North Korea in 2022
In 2022, electricity generation in North Korea primarily came from low-carbon sources, making up more than half of the total electricity production. Specifically, hydropower accounted for the significant bulk of this clean energy generation, contributing just over 62% of the total. In contrast, fossil fuels, predominantly coal, made up about 37% of the electricity production. Despite the substantial reliance on low-carbon sources, the continued use of coal highlights an area where North Korea could improve to minimize environmental impacts such as climate change and air pollution.
Suggestions
To further elevate its low-carbon electricity generation, North Korea can draw lessons from countries adept in implementing nuclear energy—a potent and stable green energy source. Nations like France and Slovakia derive a significant portion of their electricity from nuclear power, standing at 68% and 62%, respectively. Similarly, Ukraine achieves 55% of its electricity from nuclear sources. Additionally, closer to home, South Korea manages to secure 30% of its electricity needs with nuclear energy. Observing these patterns, North Korea might consider investing in nuclear facilities to enhance its clean energy portfolio, alongside exploring solar and wind options, learning from countries like Denmark where wind accounts for 52% of electricity generation.
History
Historically, North Korea's low-carbon electricity generation, particularly from hydropower, has witnessed fluctuations over the decades. In the early 1980s, there was a steady increase in hydropower output, with additional gigawatt-hours realized annually. However, the '90s marked a downturn, highlighted by a notable decline between 1992 and 1997. More recent history shows a series of ups and downs, yet there have been significant positive shifts, especially in the early 2000s and more markedly from 2016 onwards, where there have been net gains in hydropower output, including a remarkable increase by 3.3 TWh in 2021. This history suggests a combined approach that increases hydropower reliability and integrates other low-carbon sources such as nuclear could stabilize and even increase clean electricity production in the future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.