In the past 12 months, from August 2024 to July 2025, Slovakia has achieved an impressive milestone by obtaining over 86% of its electricity from low-carbon sources. The bulk of this clean electricity comes from nuclear power, which alone contributes about 64.5%, while hydropower adds roughly 15%. This reliance on low-carbon sources positions Slovakia as a leader in sustainable electricity generation. On the downside, fossil fuel-based electricity, mainly from gas, still accounts for around 11%, posing challenges for further reducing CO2 emissions. Notably, Slovakia is not just self-sufficient in electricity but also a significant net exporter, supporting neighboring countries in reducing their emissions. To meet future demands, Slovakia plans to electrify sectors such as transport, heating, and industry, which will require considerably more electricity than is currently available.
Is Electricity Growing in Slovakia?
Despite these green achievements, Slovakia's electricity consumption per capita has decreased over the years, standing at 5302 kWh per person in 2025—down from a record of 6030 kWh per person in 2002. This represents a decline of 728 kWh per person over the period, signaling a reduced pace of growth in electricity usage. On the other hand, low-carbon electricity generation reached 4567 kWh per person, slightly down from the 4576 kWh per person achieved in 2024. The marginal decline of 9 kWh per person in low-carbon generation is a concern, as it reflects a stalling momentum that could hamper further electrification efforts needed for environmental sustainability.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Slovakia could focus on expanding its nuclear capacity, as it already sustains a significant portion of the country's needs. Given nuclear energy’s reliability and ability to produce large amounts of clean electricity, it stands out as an excellent candidate for future development. Investments in solar energy would also further diversify Slovakia’s green energy portfolio, helping mitigate the impacts of fossil fuels such as climate change and air pollution. With a targeted strategy harnessing these low-carbon technologies, Slovakia can continue to strengthen its leadership in sustainable electricity generation.
History
Slovakia's journey in adopting low-carbon electricity has seen various developments over the years. In the mid-1980s, nuclear power experienced significant growth with additions like 2.3 TWh in 1986. The 1990s likewise saw fluctuations, with notable increases, such as 1.1 TWh of nuclear in 1994 and 1.5 TWh from hydro in 1993, balancing occasional setbacks. Entering the new millennium, nuclear power expanded by 3.4 TWh in 2000, setting a strong baseline for sustainable energy. However, the late 2000s witnessed substantial decreases, with reductions of 2.7 TWh in 2007 and 2.6 TWh in 2009, raising concerns about uninterrupted investment and development. Recently, the year 2023 marked a rebound with nuclear generation growing by 2.4 TWh and hydropower by 1 TWh, reaffirming Slovakia's continued commitment to a low-carbon future. This historical commitment provides Slovakia a solid foundation to build upon in further advancing its green electricity endeavors.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.