Electricity in Russia in 2023/2024

In Russia, electricity consumption over the past twelve months from August 2023 to July 2024 has been largely dependent on fossil fuels, with more than 60% coming from these sources. Specifically, gas contributes around 45% and coal about 17%, indicating a heavy reliance on these polluting energy forms. In contrast, low-carbon energy makes up a significant portion of the remaining electricity generation, representing approximately 37%. Within this cleaner energy category, nuclear power accounts for more than 18% and hydropower close to 18%, indicating that Russia already has a substantial base of clean energy but still has room for growth to further reduce its environmental impact.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Russia can build on its substantial existing nuclear infrastructure by expanding its nuclear capacity. Lessons can be learned from countries with high percentages of nuclear energy in their mix. France, for example, generates around 67% of its electricity from nuclear power, while Slovakia and Ukraine produce 60% and 55%, respectively. Closer to Russia, countries like Finland and Hungary also show a strong reliance on nuclear, with 39% and 33%. Additionally, the success of wind energy in countries such as Denmark (61%) and Germany (31%) illustrates that Russia could also consider bolstering its wind energy projects to diversify its low-carbon portfolio.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Russia shows a turbulent period, especially in the nuclear sector. In the late 1980s, nuclear electricity generation saw notable increases, with an additional 19.5 TWh in 1987 and 10.1 TWh in 1988. However, the early 1990s marked significant declines, including a decrease of 18 TWh in 1990 and another drop of 21.4 TWh in 1994. The late 1990s and beyond marked a period of recovery and growth, with intermittent fluctuations but generally positive trends in both nuclear and hydroelectric power. Significant increases include nuclear boosts of 16.6 TWh in 1999 and 14.7 TWh in 2015, alongside hydropower gains of over 16 TWh in both 2016 and 2020. These fluctuations underscore the importance of consistent policy and investment in sustaining and expanding clean energy capacities to build a more resilient and eco-friendly electricity grid.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources