From October 2025 through September 2026, low-carbon sources supplied about 68% of Romania’s electricity consumption—more than two-thirds—while fossil fuels supplied 28% and net imports covered the remaining 4%. Hydropower was the largest clean source at about 26%, followed by nuclear at 16%, wind at 13%, and solar at 12%. Among fossil fuels, gas supplied about 18% and coal about 10%. Romania therefore has a predominantly low-carbon electricity mix, but fossil fuels still account for more than a quarter of consumption, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Romania?

The latest figures do not establish whether Romania’s electricity consumption is growing year on year, but they show that it remains well below its historical peak. The 2026 figure of about 2,640 kWh per person is roughly 850 kWh, or 24%, below the record of about 3,490 kWh in 1989. Low-carbon electricity generation is also below its previous high: about 1,790 kWh per person, compared with roughly 2,030 kWh in 2023—a decline of about 230 kWh, or 11%. These shortfalls are concerning: Romania needs renewed growth in clean electricity to support electrification and future demand, including from AI.

Suggestions

Romania can build on its existing strengths by expanding nuclear, wind, and solar generation, alongside the grid infrastructure needed to deliver additional clean electricity. Nearby European examples offer useful benchmarks: Slovakia generates about two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear, while Bulgaria obtains about 37% and Hungary about 30%, demonstrating the substantial role nuclear can play in the region. For solar, Hungary’s roughly 23% share and North Macedonia’s 40% show opportunities to move beyond Romania’s current 12%. Wind can also grow from its existing base, with Lithuania generating about 41% of its electricity from wind and Denmark about 59%. These examples support a diversified expansion strategy rather than reliance on a single technology.

History

Romania’s low-carbon electricity history combines major nuclear gains with repeated swings in hydropower. In the 1990s, hydro generation rose by 3.2 TWh in 1991, fell by 2.9 TWh in 1992, and gained 3.6 TWh in 1995; nuclear then added 4 TWh in 1997. During the 2000s, hydro losses in 2000 and 2003 were followed by gains totaling 7 TWh in 2004–2005, while nuclear delivered another substantial increase of 3.5 TWh in 2008. The 2010s brought further hydro fluctuations: a 4.4 TWh gain in 2010 preceded losses totaling 7.9 TWh in 2011–2012, followed by a combined 7 TWh recovery in 2013–2014 and another decline-and-rebound sequence in 2017–2018. More recently, hydro fell by 3.3 TWh in 2022, recovered 4.1 TWh in 2023, then lost a combined 6.6 TWh in 2024–2025. Those recent setbacks underline the importance of expanding nuclear, solar, and wind to sustain growth in clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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