Electricity in Russia in 2023

As of 2023, electricity consumption in Russia is largely dependent on fossil fuels, which constitute over 60% of the total electricity generation. Gas alone accounts for close to 45%, while coal contributes nearly 18%. On the other hand, low-carbon and clean energy sources represent a substantial part of the electricity mix, making up roughly 36%. Within this category, nuclear power stands out, providing nearly 20% of the total electricity, and hydropower also makes a significant contribution with around 17%. Despite this commendable share of low-carbon energy, the dominance of fossil fuels shows there is still significant room for improvement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Russia should consider expanding its existing nuclear capacities. Currently, nuclear power already contributes significantly to the electricity mix and further investments could enhance its share dramatically. Russia can look to countries with successful low-carbon initiatives for models to follow. For instance, France relies on nuclear power for 65% of its electricity, while Slovakia and Ukraine both achieve more than 50% through the same means. Additionally, Finland and Bulgaria also have impressive nuclear contributions with each generating around 40%. These examples illustrate that increasing the share of nuclear power is not only feasible but also effective in moving towards cleaner electricity.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Russia has seen various fluctuations over the years. During the late 1980s, nuclear energy saw significant growth, with notable increases of 19.5 TWh in 1987 and 10.1 TWh in 1988. However, the early 1990s experienced setbacks, particularly in 1990 and 1994, which saw declines of 18 TWh and 21.4 TWh, respectively. Hydropower also faced variability with a significant drop in 1996 but made a comeback with growth in subsequent years, notably in 2004 and 2013. In the first two decades of the 21st century, nuclear power continued to gradually increase, with key growth periods in 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2014. Hydropower remained variable but showed strong positive trends, especially in 2004, 2016, and 2020, despite occasional declines like in 2008 and 2022. Through these decades, both nuclear and hydropower demonstrated their potential and resilience as key contributors to Russia's low-carbon electricity generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources