Electricity in Russia in 2024
In 2024, Russia's electricity consumption continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels, with more than half of its electricity coming from such sources. Gas plays a particularly dominant role, accounting for roughly 44% of electricity generation, and coal contributes to about 19%. On the positive side, low-carbon energy sources provide almost 36% of the nation's electricity, thanks to significant inputs from both nuclear power and hydropower, each contributing around 18%. This shows that while Russia is making strides in clean energy adoption, fossil fuels still represent a major portion of its electricity mix, highlighting an area ripe for transformation.
Suggestions
To enhance the share of low-carbon electricity, Russia could focus on expanding its nuclear generation given its current significant contribution to the power grid. Looking at successful examples from countries with similar geographical and political landscapes, Russia can draw valuable lessons. Ukraine, a neighboring country, generates 55% of its electricity from nuclear, and Slovakia, not too far off, achieves 62%. Additionally, France leads with a remarkable 68% of its electricity from nuclear power, showcasing the potential of this technology. Russia could also consider expanding its investments in wind and solar energy, as seen in nations like Denmark, which derives over half of its electricity from wind power, and Ireland with 32%.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Russia features notable milestones, particularly in nuclear and hydropower sectors. In the late 1980s, nuclear energy saw a substantial increase, but the early 90s marked a period of decline, with significant reductions in nuclear generation by around 1990 and 1994. Positively, this trend reversed in the late 1990s and into the 21st century, as nuclear power generation gradually increased. Hydropower has also experienced fluctuations, with sizable growth in certain years, such as 2004 and 2016, and declines at other times. However, the recent years show an increase in both nuclear and hydropower, signaling ongoing efforts to escalate low-carbon electricity generation. This fluctuating trend highlights the need for consistent policy and investment to sustain growth in clean electricity.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.