Montenegro's electricity supply in 2025 shows a significant reliance on hydropower and net imports. Low-carbon electricity, which includes hydropower, wind, and solar, accounts for almost half of the total electricity consumption in the country. Hydropower itself generates 39% of the electricity, making it the primary clean energy source. Wind power contributes approximately 8%, with solar adding another 2%, highlighting modest but important contributions to Montenegro's green energy portfolio. Net imports provide a little more than a third of electricity, indicating a need for domestic production enhancement. Alarmingly, over 14% of the electricity consumption still comes from fossil sources, entirely coal, which exacerbates air pollution and climate change concerns.
Data sources used on this page include Ember, ENTSOE, Eurostat and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Montenegro?
Montenegro's electricity consumption per person in 2025 has decreased substantially compared to its peak in 2006. The latest measure of 5,817 kWh per person is noticeably lower than the 2006 record of 7,612 kWh, revealing a concerning dip of nearly 1,800 kWh per person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation per person is at 2,861 kWh, also down from the 2010 peak of 4,351 kWh, equating to a fall of about 1,490 kWh. These reductions point to a worrying trend of declining electricity and low-carbon generation, which can hinder Montenegro's pursuit of sustainable and environmentally friendly economic growth.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity, Montenegro can learn from regions excelling in solar, wind, and nuclear energy generation. Emulating the solar capacity achievements of Nevada and Lebanon, which generate about one-third of their electricity from solar, could significantly boost clean energy in Montenegro. Montenegro should also consider developing nuclear energy, as countries like France and Slovakia heavily rely on it, with nuclear energy generating about two-thirds of their electricity. Pursuing these initiatives could substantially rebalance Montenegro's energy mix toward more sustainable sources, diminish the need for imports, and simultaneously reduce reliance on coal. Drawing lessons from such successful regions can lead to a robust low-carbon framework integrating solar and possibly nuclear capabilities.
History
Looking into Montenegro's history of low-carbon electricity, particularly hydropower, we observe fluctuating patterns with some robust growth periods. Notably, the early 2010s saw consistent growth, culminating with a significant increase in 2013. However, this era was also marked by decreases, including a major decline in 2011 and varied setbacks through 2015. The past decade presents a rollercoaster with gains like in 2018 and 2023, contrasted by several reductions. Since 2019, Montenegro has also seen burgeoning wind energy initiatives, indicating strides towards diversification in clean energy. Overall, these historical trends hint at a need for more stable and consistently expanding low-carbon electricity strategies to secure an eco-friendly and resilient energy future for Montenegro.
