From September 2025 through August 2026, fossil fuels supplied about 60% of Serbia’s electricity consumption, with coal alone accounting for roughly 56% and gas for almost 4%. Low-carbon sources supplied nearly a third: hydropower contributed about 25%, wind around 5%, and biofuels just over 1%. Net imports covered approximately 8%, although the data does not identify their generation sources. Serbia’s electricity supply therefore remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, leaving substantial room for more clean electricity to reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Serbia?

The latest figures do not show Serbia reaching new highs in electricity consumption or low-carbon generation. Electricity consumption in 2026 stood at about 5,430 kWh per person, roughly 140 kWh—or 2.5%—below the 2023 record of about 5,570 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation was around 1,730 kWh per person, approximately 380 kWh—or 18%—below its 2023 peak of about 2,110 kWh. These comparisons do not establish the year-to-year trend, but the shortfall in clean electricity is concerning: Serbia needs sustained growth in low-carbon generation to support electrification and rising electricity demand, including from AI.

Suggestions

Serbia should prioritize expanding solar and wind generation while developing a pathway to nuclear electricity. Nearby regions offer useful examples: nuclear supplies about two-thirds of electricity generation in Slovakia, 40% in Slovenia, and 38% in Bulgaria, demonstrating its potential to underpin a substantial clean electricity supply. Solar contributes around 22% in Hungary, 20% in North Macedonia, and 19% in Bulgaria—strong regional examples for Serbia to learn from when scaling rooftop installations and larger solar projects. Wind also offers considerable scope for growth, with shares of about 16% in Croatia and 21% in Greece. Pairing these investments with stronger grids, storage, and regional cooperation would help Serbia expand low-carbon electricity beyond its existing hydropower base.

History

Serbia’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is dominated by substantial fluctuations in hydropower. During the 1990s, generation increased by 2 TWh in 1991 and by roughly 1–1.6 TWh in 1995 and 1996, but fell by about 1 TWh in both 1993 and 1997. The 2000s brought further reversals, including declines in 2000, 2003, and 2006, alongside a 2 TWh rebound in 2004 and a 1 TWh gain in 2009. In the 2010s, a 1.4 TWh increase in 2010 was followed by a sharp 3.3 TWh drop in 2011; declines in 2017 and 2019 surrounded a 1.6 TWh recovery in 2018. More recently, gains of 2.2 TWh in 2021 and 3.7 TWh in 2023 alternated with losses of 2.7 TWh in 2022, 2.5 TWh in 2024, and 1.9 TWh in 2025. Those consecutive recent declines underline the importance of adding solar, wind, and nuclear generation to deliver more sustained clean electricity growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Sep 2025 – Aug 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.