Mongolia's current electricity consumption is heavily skewed towards fossil fuels, with more than two-thirds, approximately 72%, coming from this source. Specifically, coal is a dominant contributor, responsible for around 68% of electricity. Unfortunately, the reliance on low-carbon energy remains limited in Mongolia, with only about 8% of electricity coming from clean sources, primarily wind and solar. Wind contributes the lion's share of this low-carbon segment at a little over 5%, while solar accounts for approximately 2%. The dependency on net imports, which constitutes roughly 21% of the total electricity, emphasizes an urgent need for Mongolia to diversify and strengthen its local energy portfolio to enhance energy security and sustainability.

Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Mongolia?

Mongolia has witnessed a positive growth in electricity consumption, reaching 3036 kWh per person in 2024, a noticeable increase from the previous year's record of 2946 kWh per person. This rise denotes an essential progression in energy consumption by about 90 kWh per person year-on-year. However, the development in low-carbon electricity generation seems to have stagnated, regressing slightly from its peak in 2021. The country's per capita low-carbon electricity generation dropped by 16 kWh to 232 kWh per person. This decline underlines the need for boosting efforts to expand Mongolia's low-carbon electricity generation capabilities, especially as demand continues to grow.

Suggestions

To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Mongolia should consider integrating nuclear and solar energy into its energy strategy. Drawing inspiration from countries like France and Slovakia, where a significant portion of electricity is generated through nuclear power—70% and 66% respectively—Mongolia can embark on building nuclear infrastructure to facilitate a stable and massive output of clean energy. Furthermore, countries with substantial solar generation like Nevada, which generates 33% of its electricity from solar, highlight the potential effectiveness of investing in solar energy. Coupling solar energy with Mongolia's vast expanses can yield substantial dividends in sustainable electricity generation, reducing over-reliance on fossil fuels and imports.

History

Historically, Mongolia's progress in low-carbon electricity has seen fluctuating developments. In the early 2010s, there was minimal growth in hydroelectric generation, with no significant increases recorded. However, from 2013 onward, some notable advancements in wind energy emerged, with incremental annual increases in wind electricity generation, such as a 0.1 TWh growth in 2013 and further increments in 2017 and 2019. Solar energy saw its first uptick in 2019 with a similar 0.1 TWh rise. Unfortunately, this progress was interrupted in 2022 with a slight decline in wind energy generation by 0.1 TWh, reflecting a challenging period for renewable energy expansion. Renewed and intensified efforts, particularly in establishing resilient solar and nuclear infrastructure, are critical for reversing these setbacks and securing a sustainable energy future for Mongolia.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade