Iceland's energy mix and electricity

🇮🇸 In 2024, Iceland generated 19.1 TWh of electricity. The largest source was hydro at 71%, followed by geothermal (29%). In total, 100% came from low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) and 0% from fossil fuels.

On average, each kilowatt hour produced about 28 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), far below the world average of 458 grams in 2025. That makes Iceland the 7th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.

Electricity demand was 19.1 TWh. Its electricity imports and exports were roughly in balance.

Since 2000, electricity generation has grown by 151%, from 7.61 TWh. The low-carbon share went from 100% to 100%. The biggest rise was in geothermal, from 17% to 29% of generation. The biggest fall was in hydro, from 83% to 71%.

Live, hour-by-hour figures for Iceland are not connected yet. The dashboard shows its yearly figures, energy mix since 2000 and interconnector trade.

Energy mix in 2024

Hydro 71%
Geothermal 29%
Wind 0.1%
Solar 0.1%

Source	Share	Generated
Hydro	71%	13.5 TWh
Geothermal	29%	5.58 TWh
Wind	0.1%	0.02 TWh
Solar	0.1%	0.02 TWh

Total energy mix in 2024

Electricity is only part of the energy Iceland uses: fuel for transport, heating and industry counts too. In 2024, Iceland used 62.8 TWh of energy in all (primary energy). The largest source was hydro at 51%, followed by other renewables (29%) and oil (18%). Fossil fuels made up 20% and low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) 81%.

Hydro 51%
Other renewables 29%
Oil 18%
Coal 1.9%
Biofuels 0.3%

Source	Share of all energy
Hydro	51%
Other renewables	29%
Oil	18%
Coal	1.9%
Biofuels	0.3%

Primary energy, with nuclear and renewable electricity counted as the fuel a power station would need to make it (the "substitution method"). Here "other renewables" is the Energy Institute's "geothermal, biomass and other" power generation, and biofuels are liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0).

Energy security score

84out of 100

Strong. Iceland ranks 8th of 158 countries and 2nd of 39 in Europe. The score shows how well a country could keep electricity affordable and on if fuel supplies were disrupted.

Measure	Score
Produces its own energy In 2024, Iceland produced energy equal to 83% of all the energy it used (100% or more scores full marks).	83
Variety of power sources How evenly generation is spread across nine sources. The largest, hydro, made 71%.	47
Little reliance on imported power Iceland exported more electricity than it imported, so it scores full marks.	100
Low-carbon power Nuclear and renewables made 100% of generation.	100
Low gas and oil use Gas and oil made 0% of generation; the score is 100 minus that share.	100

The five measures are weighted 30%, 20%, 20%, 15% and 15%. How the score works.

How it has changed

Year	Generated	Low-carbon	Fossil	CO₂ g/kWh
2000	7.61 TWh	100%	0%	26
2005	8.61 TWh	100%	0%	27
2010	16.7 TWh	100%	0%	27
2015	18.6 TWh	100%	0%	27
2020	18.9 TWh	100%	0%	28
2023	19.8 TWh	100%	0%	28
2024	19.1 TWh	100%	0%	28

Questions about Iceland's energy

What is Iceland's energy mix?

In 2024, Iceland's electricity came from hydro 71% and geothermal 29%. Counting all the energy it uses, including fuel for transport and heating, the mix in 2024 was hydro 51%, other renewables 29%, oil 18% and coal 1.9%.

How much of Iceland's electricity is renewable?

100% of its electricity came from renewables in 2024 (hydro 71% and geothermal 29%).

What is Iceland's main source of electricity?

Hydro, which made 71% of its electricity in 2024.

How clean is Iceland's electricity?

About 28 grams of CO₂ for each kilowatt hour in 2024, far below the world average of 458 grams. It ranks 7th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.

Does Iceland import electricity?

Its imports and exports were roughly in balance in 2024.

How secure is Iceland's energy supply?

Global Grid's energy security score for Iceland is 84 out of 100 (strong), 8th of 158 countries. It looks at how much of its own energy it produces, how varied its power sources are, its reliance on imported power and its use of low-carbon power, gas and oil.

Other countries in Europe

See every country

Sources: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2024; energy production and use by source from the Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0), 2024. Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).