As of 2025, Serbia's electricity consumption shows a significant reliance on fossil energy, particularly coal. More than half of Serbia's electricity, approximately 66%, is generated from fossil fuels, with coal alone accounting for over 61%. This reliance on fossil energy is concerning due to its environmental impacts, including air pollution and contributions to climate change. Meanwhile, close to one-third of Serbia's electricity comes from low-carbon sources, predominantly hydropower, which provides nearly 24% of the electricity. Wind energy accounts for a smaller fraction, contributing almost 4% to the electricity grid. Serbia also imports a modest amount of its electricity, around 5%. The current energy mix highlights the need for Serbia to transition further towards clean energy sources to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental harm.
Data sources used on this page include ENTSOE, Eurostat and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Serbia?
Unfortunately, Serbia's electricity consumption has seen a decline, raising concerns about the country's energy situation. The current electricity consumption per person is 5,375 kWh, a decrease from the 2023 peak of 5,568 kWh per person. Notably, low-carbon electricity generation has also decreased, dropping from 2,113 kWh per person in 2023 to 1,531 kWh in 2025, a significant decline of 582 kWh per person. This trend suggests a step back from the progress previously made in reducing Serbia's reliance on fossil fuels and moving towards a sustainable energy future. The downtrend in clean energy generation challenges Serbia's commitment to low-carbon energy and could undermine its efforts to combat climate change.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Serbia can draw lessons from various successful regions worldwide. Countries like France and Slovakia, which generate a significant majority of their electricity from nuclear power—70% and 66% respectively—demonstrate the potential of nuclear energy as a backbone of sustainable electricity systems. On the other hand, regions such as Denmark and Iowa, generating 58% and 60% of their electricity from wind energy, respectively, showcase the viability of wind power. For solar energy, areas like Nevada and Lebanon show promise by generating about one-third of their electricity from this source. Serbia should consider ramping up investments in nuclear and solar infrastructure to diversify and stabilize its low-carbon electricity generation, drawing on these examples as inspiration.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Serbia indicates fluctuations over the decades, particularly in hydropower. In the early 1990s, there were some positive advances with a slight increase in hydroelectric generation. However, the ensuing years showed instability, with periods of increase overshadowed by declines—for instance, a drop of 3.3 TWh in 2011. More recent years continue to show volatility, such as a remarkable increase in 2023 followed by declines in 2024 and 2025. This erratic pattern underscores the necessity for Serbia to stabilize and grow its low-carbon generation capability. By focusing on expanding nuclear and solar capacity—technologies less susceptible to fluctuations in weather and climate—Serbia can ensure a more resilient and sustainable electricity supply for the future.
