DR Congo energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in the DR Congo reached 15.9 TWh in 2024. The supply is almost entirely hydropower, which accounted for 84.2% of generation; solar power made up most of the remainder (15.8%).
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 13.4 | 84.2% | −15.7 |
| Solar | 2.51 | 15.8% | +15.8 |
| Bioenergy | 0.01 | 0.1% | +0.1 |
| Total | 15.92 | 100% |
DR Congo: electricity in context
Electricity generation in the DR Congo reached 15.9 TWh in 2024. That is similar to Guatemala. The supply is almost entirely hydropower, which accounted for 84.2% of generation; solar power made up most of the remainder (15.8%).
Renewables supplied 100% of the electricity, which ranks the DR Congo 1st of 158 countries (among the very top). This puts it 66 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Africa (24.7%). Generating one kWh emits about 28 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). Few grids anywhere are this clean. On carbon intensity, the DR Congo ranks 7th of 158 from the cleanest.
Since 2014, hydropower has added the most generation in absolute terms (+4.7 TWh), yet its share of the mix fell by 15.7 percentage points because other sources grew even faster. Measured by share of the mix, solar power gained most, up 15.8 percentage points. Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point).
Coal has never been part of the power mix in the DR Congo in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 15.8% of electricity (solar 15.8%, wind 0%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 23 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2021.
The DR Congo generates 146 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 4% of the global average. Imports cover around 8% of demand: the DR Congo bought 1.4 TWh more electricity than it exported.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
DR Congo against the world and Africa averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 382 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in DR Congo
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 15 utility-scale plants in the DR Congo with a combined capacity of 3.1 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (99% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Inga II (1,775 MW, Hydro). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inga II | Hydro | 1,775 | 1982 | — |
| 2 | Nseke | Hydro | 260 | 1956 | Societe Nationale D'elec |
| 3 | Nzilo | Hydro | 228 | 1957 | Societe Nationale D'elec |
| 4 | Zongo II | Hydro | 150 | 2017 | Ministry of energy |
| 5 | Imboulou | Hydro | 120 | 2011 | Société National d\'Electricité (SNE) |
| 6 | Ruzizi I | Hydro | 81 | 1958 | Societe Nationale D'elec |
| 7 | Zongo 1 | Hydro | 75 | 1945 | Societe Nationale D'elec |
| 8 | Moukoukoulou | Hydro | 74 | 1979 | Soc Nationale D'energie |
| 9 | M'Sha | Hydro | 68 | — | — |
| 10 | Mwadingusha | Hydro | 68 | 1930 | — |
| 11 | Katende | Hydro | 64 | 2016 | Ministere De L'energie (cd) |
| 12 | Koni | Hydro | 42 | 1950 | — |
| 13 | Djeno Total | Gas | 25 | 2012 | Total Sa |
| 14 | Rutshuru | Hydro | 14 | 2015 | — |
| 15 | Pointe-Noire | Oil | 13 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 15 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: DR Congo
19 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 32 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 2.2 GW under construction or planned.
How does DR Congo compare?
DR Congo next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | 100% | 100% | 0% | 28 | 146 | 15.9 | — | |
| Rwanda | 49.6% | 49.6% | 50.4% | 354 | 79 | 1.1 | Compare | |
| Uganda | 97.1% | 97.1% | 2.9% | 59 | 116 | 5.8 | Compare | |
| Republic of the Congo | 20.9% | 20.9% | 79.1% | 716 | 862 | 5.5 | Compare | |
| Tanzania | 32.9% | 32.9% | 67.1% | 345 | 129 | 8.8 | Compare | |
| Angola | 73.7% | 73.7% | 26.3% | 185 | 412 | 15.6 | Compare | |
| Zambia | 87.5% | 87.5% | 12.5% | 120 | 925 | 19.7 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for DR Congo
DR Congo energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in the DR Congo is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in the DR Congo?
How clean is the electricity in the DR Congo?
Does the DR Congo have nuclear power?
How much electricity does the DR Congo use per person?
How much solar power does the DR Congo produce?
Does the DR Congo import electricity?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.