In South Korea, the current state of electricity consumption shows a varied mix between fossil energy sources and cleaner, low-carbon options. Over the period from May 2024 to April 2025, more than half of South Korea's electricity was generated from fossil energy, with coal and gas contributing almost equally to this category. Coal contributed slightly more than 26%, while gas was a bit higher at about 27%. On the other hand, low-carbon energy sources made up almost 43% of the electricity mix, showcasing an encouraging level of clean energy utilization. Nuclear power, a cornerstone of South Korea's clean energy, contributed to nearly a third of the entire electricity generation, making it the most significant source within the low-carbon category. While solar power and biofuels combined contributed close to 9% to the overall energy mix, hydropower provided a modest support of just over 1%, underscoring the importance and potential of increasing electricity production from these low-carbon sources.
Is Electricity Growing in South Korea?
Regarding the country's electricity consumption trend, it shows a decrease, which might be a cause for concern given the global push for more electricity to meet future demands. The latest consumption figures, as of 2025, indicate electricity usage of about 11,224 kWh per person. This is notably a drop from the previous peak in 2022, with a decrease of 838 kWh per person, highlighting a decline from the historic record. However, there is a silver lining when it comes to low-carbon electricity generation. The latest numbers show a record amount of low-carbon electricity at 4,821 kWh per person, marking a slight increase of 24 kWh per person from the low-carbon peak set in 2024. These figures suggest a positive, albeit small, trend in the adoption of cleaner energy, even as overall electricity use decreases.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation in South Korea, expanding existing nuclear capabilities would prove beneficial, given its already significant contribution. South Korea could also glean valuable lessons from other regions excelling in low-carbon technologies. For example, by looking at countries like France, where nuclear energy provides a substantial 69% of their electricity, South Korea could further amplify nuclear's role in their energy matrix. Learning from regions leading in solar energy, such as Lebanon where solar accounts for over 30% of electricity, could also be invaluable. By investing in solar infrastructure improvements, South Korea can augment solar energy's contribution. Such steps would not only bolster clean energy production but also align with global efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thus mitigating adverse impacts on the environment.
History
The evolution of low-carbon electricity in South Korea has seen numerous ups and downs, particularly in the nuclear sector. The late 1980s and 1990s were pivotal with consistent growth in nuclear electricity, highlighted by significant increases such as the 12.6 TWh rise in 1998 and another 13.4 TWh in 1999. Entering the 21st century, the growth continued with notable jumps like the 16.1 TWh increase in 2005. However, the period around 2013 to 2018 was less favorable, marked by declines such as the 11.5 TWh drop in 2013 and subsequent decreases in the following years. A positive shift occurred again in 2019 and 2020, as nuclear generation increased by 12.4 TWh and 14.3 TWh respectively, affirming a rebound. As the decade progressed, the momentum carried through with a significant addition of 18 TWh in 2022, underscoring the crucial role of nuclear energy in South Korea's clean energy landscape. Continued commitment to expanding nuclear capacity alongside advancements in solar energy will be vital to sustainably meet increasing electricity demands.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.