Electricity in Mongolia in 2024/2025
Over the past year, stretching from July 2024 to June 2025, Mongolia's electricity landscape was dominated by fossil-based sources, specifically coal, which accounted for slightly more than 90% of the total electricity consumption. On the other side of the spectrum, clean electricity sources such as wind contributed to approximately 9% of the electricity mix. Despite efforts to shift towards low-carbon energy, the proportion of sustainable energy in Mongolia remains limited, emphasizing the substantial work required to transition to a greener electricity infrastructure.
Is Electricity Growing in Mongolia?
Recently, Mongolia has seen a decrease in its overall electricity consumption when compared to previous years. In 2025, the total electricity consumed per person was 2581 kWh, marking a notable drop from the 3036 kWh per person recorded in 2024. Similarly, low-carbon electricity also experienced a setback, falling from a historic high of 249 kWh per person in 2021 to 232 kWh in 2025. These declines indicate a worrying trend in both general electricity demand and sustainable energy production, potentially impacting Mongolia's ability to meet future electricity needs.
Suggestions
To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Mongolia can take inspiration from successful energy models in other parts of the world. Initiatives to increase wind energy should be a priority, drawing lessons from regions like Iowa and South Dakota, where wind power contributes to more than 60% and 60% of the electricity supply respectively. Moreover, incorporating solar power, as demonstrated by countries like Lebanon and Cyprus with about a third and 21% respectively of their electricity coming from solar, can further support Mongolia’s clean energy goals. Additionally, exploring nuclear energy can prove beneficial, as evidenced by France and Slovakia, where nuclear power generates a majority segment of their electricity, showcasing a robust low-carbon path.
History
Tracing back through Mongolia's low-carbon electricity history, progress has been gradual but consistent since the early 2010s. Wind energy made its mark in 2014 with an initial increase of 0.1 TWh and has seen small but positive increments over the years, including a stronger boost of 0.3 TWh by 2025. Solar and hydro energy contributions have been more moderate and sporadic, with no significant growth observed in hydro since 2009 and only minimal solar advancements post-2017. Despite these developments, overall growth in sustainable energy has been slow, urging anticipation for a more aggressive approach in the coming years to fully capitalize on clean energy potentials.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.