The current state of electricity consumption in Romania for the year 2025 reflects a promising trend towards low-carbon energy sources, with more than half of the electricity, approximately 65%, coming from such clean energy. Notably, hydropower and nuclear are significant contributors, providing around 22% and 19% respectively. In addition to these, solar and wind also play a vital role, each contributing around 12% to the overall energy mix. In contrast, fossil energy accounts for about 27% of the total electricity consumption, with natural gas making up nearly 15% and coal close to 11%. Net imports stand at roughly 8%, highlighting Romania's external energy dependency and underscoring the importance of further developing domestic, sustainable sources.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, ENTSOE and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Romania?
Despite Romania's commitment to low-carbon electricity, the overall electricity consumption per person has experienced a notable decline since its last peak in 1989, which recorded approximately 3487 kWh/person. In 2025, this figure stands at 2752 kWh/person, marking a decrease of over 700 kWh/person. Moreover, low-carbon electricity generation per person has also seen a reduction from its previous high in 2023 of 2026 kWh/person to 1800 kWh/person. This trend is concerning and points to the need for strategic investments and initiatives to not only preserve but also enhance low-carbon generation capacity to meet future demands, driven by technology advances like AI and increased electrification.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Romania should focus on expanding its existing nuclear, solar, and wind capacities, given their current significant contributions. Drawing lessons from other successful regions can offer valuable insights. For nuclear energy, Romania can look to countries such as France and Slovakia, where nuclear power accounts for more than two-thirds of electricity generation. In terms of wind energy, Denmark and various states in the US like Iowa and South Dakota generate a substantial portion, close to or over half of their electricity, from this clean source. Solar energy also presents an opportunity for growth, with states like Nevada and California successfully harnessing more than 30% of their electricity from solar. By adopting and tailoring strategies from these leaders, Romania can make robust strides in increasing its sustainable energy output.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Romania has witnessed fluctuating periods of growth and decline. In the 1990s, changes in hydropower generation were notable, with significant increases in 1991 and 1995, but also substantial declines such as in 1992. The late 1990s marked a transformation with the rise in nuclear power in 1997, growing by 4 TWh. A continued positive trend in nuclear was seen again in 2008 with a 3.5 TWh increase. Hydropower has seen its ups and downs over the decades, with notable increases in the early 2000s and several challenges in recent years, such as a reduction of 3.3 TWh in 2022. These fluctuations emphasize the need for consistent investments and policy support for stable, secure, and clean energy production, particularly in scaling up nuclear and solar electricity, which are essential to Romania’s energy future.
