In 2025, Latvia's electricity consumption profile shows a strong reliance on low-carbon energy sources, which make up more than half of the overall electricity mix. Hydropower is the dominant low-carbon source, contributing to around 41% of the consumption. Other clean sources such as solar, biofuels, and wind follow with almost 10%, 5%, and 3% respectively. On the fossil front, gas accounts for about 22%, showing that there is still room for improvement towards a more sustainable future. Net imports make up roughly 19% of the total electricity supply, further highlighting a reliance on external sources. Achieving greater energy independence through the expansion of low-carbon sources like nuclear and solar could benefit Latvia significantly.
Data sources used on this page include Energy Institute, ENTSOE, Eurostat and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Latvia?
Electricity consumption in Latvia provides a mixed picture in terms of growth. The latest data suggests there is a decline in per capita electricity consumption from 3960 kWh in 2018 to 3851 kWh in 2025. This decrease of 108 kWh/person is indicative of a shrinking or stagnating consumption level. Furthermore, the record for low-carbon electricity generation was at 2812 kWh per person in 2017, whereas the latest figures in 2025 reflect a disappointing decline to 2255 kWh per person. This drop of 557 kWh/person in low-carbon generation is concerning as it signals that Latvia is not advancing its clean electricity capacities as it should to meet future demands and counteract climate change.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Latvia should strategically invest in clean energy technologies. Drawing inspiration from successful regions, the focus could be on expanding nuclear and solar capacities. Countries like France and Slovakia have set strong examples by generating over 70% and 66% of their electricity from nuclear power, respectively. Emulating these nations by developing nuclear facilities could significantly boost Latvia's low-carbon profile. Moreover, solar success stories in Nevada and Lebanon, with solar contributing around 33% and 31%, provide a pathway for Latvia to diversify its clean energy mix further. Pairing these technologies can help Latvia transition more effectively to a greener energy future.
History
Historically, Latvia’s low-carbon electricity landscape has seen fluctuations, especially in hydropower generation. In the late 1980s, Latvia saw changes with hydro output increasing and decreasing nearly every year, resulting in an uneven expansion. The 1990s were marked by larger dips such as in 1991 and 1996, where hydro generation fell significantly by 1.2 TWh and 1.1 TWh respectively. Notably, between 2012 to 2013, hydro generation increased by 0.8 TWh but then saw a similar decline the next year. The erratic nature of hydroelectric output, while historically significant for Latvia, calls for a diversification of its low-carbon portfolio to include stable and abundant sources like nuclear and solar. These would not only provide consistent clean electricity but also reduce Latvia’s dependence on fluctuating resources and imported electricity.
