Over the 12 months from August 2024 to July 2025, Croatia's electricity consumption has reflected a predominantly low-carbon approach with about two-thirds of its electricity sourced from clean methods. Hydropower remains the most significant contributor, accounting for nearly 39% of Croatia’s electricity, underscoring the country's reliance on its abundant water resources. Wind energy also constitutes a substantial share of nearly 20%, showcasing the importance of air currents in Croatia's energy strategy. In contrast, fossil fuels account for approximately 21%, primarily driven by gas, which contributes nearly 17%. Coal plays a trivial role, making up less than 5%. Net imports handle around a tenth of the electrical demand, emphasizing a degree of dependency on external electricity sources. Solar energy, while acknowledged as a clean energy source, still represents a small portion of the mix, making up just under 3%, hinting at potential areas for growth in the pursuit to reduce fossil fuel reliance and enhance sustainability in Croatia’s energy profile.
Is Electricity Growing in Croatia?
In recent years, Croatia's electricity consumption seems to have seen a decline, rather than growth. The latest data indicates a per person electricity consumption of 3898 kWh, which is significantly below the previous year's peak at 5019 kWh per person, marking a decrease of over 1100 kWh. This downward trend is also visible in the low-carbon electricity generation figures, with a current level at 2646 kWh per person, down from a 2023 record of 3085 kWh, representing a reduction of 439 kWh. These figures raise concerns, as a decrease in both overall and low-carbon electricity consumption could hinder Croatia’s efforts to sustain the clean energy momentum and cope with rising demands for green electricity, pointing to a need for strategic planning and investment in electricity infrastructure and technology.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Croatia should look into expanding its existing wind energy capacity, given its already noteworthy contribution. Croatia could draw inspiration from Denmark and South Dakota, where wind accounts for more than 55% of electricity generation, demonstrating the potential and viability of robust wind energy infrastructure. Beyond wind, Croatia should consider expanding solar capacity by learning from major solar adopters like Greece and Cyprus. Furthermore, exploring nuclear power might open new avenues, as demonstrated by nuclear-heavy countries such as France and Slovakia, where nuclear energy contributes more than 60% of electricity generation. By diversifying into these sustainable energy sources, Croatia could elevate its low-carbon electricity portfolio, reduce reliance on fossil imports, and meet future green energy demands.
History
Looking back at the history of Croatia's low-carbon electricity generation reveals a pattern of fluctuations in hydroelectric output. In the early 1990s and again in the late 1990s to early 2000s, hydroelectricity saw significant ups and downs, with notable increases followed by substantial decreases. The mid-2000s experienced similar volatility up until the 2010s, where Croatia managed strong growth in some years, such as 2013, but still faced declines following positive trends. In recent times, particularly 2022 to 2024, while some years like 2023 saw gains, the general state of hydroelectric power has been marked by inconsistency. Moving forward, Croatia should aim for stability and growth in its hydroelectric sector while also expanding other sustainable sources like nuclear and solar, to establish a more balanced and reliable clean electricity generation framework.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.