Mongolia energy mix & electricity
Power plants in Mongolia produced 9.7 TWh of electricity in 2025. The supply is almost entirely coal, which accounted for 85.8% of generation; oil made up most of the remainder (5.9%).
Electricity generation by source in 2025
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 8.31 | 85.8% | −6.1 |
| Oil | 0.57 | 5.9% | +1.7 |
| Wind | 0.54 | 5.6% | +2.9 |
| Solar | 0.21 | 2.2% | +2 |
| Hydro | 0.06 | 0.6% | −0.5 |
| Total | 9.69 | 100% |
Mongolia: electricity in context
Power plants in Mongolia produced 9.7 TWh of electricity in 2025. That is similar to Armenia. The supply is almost entirely coal, which accounted for 85.8% of generation; oil made up most of the remainder (5.9%).
The renewable share stood at 8.4%, placing Mongolia 134th of 158 ranked countries (in the bottom quarter). This puts it 25 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for Asia (27.3%). Generating one kWh emits about 816 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). Few grids in the world emit more per kilowatt-hour. On carbon intensity, Mongolia ranks 152nd of 158 from the cleanest.
Since 2015, coal has added the most generation in absolute terms (+3.3 TWh), yet its share of the mix fell by 6.1 percentage points because other sources grew even faster. Measured by share of the mix, wind power gained most, up 2.9 percentage points. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 4.4 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 4.2 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 868 to 816 g/kWh, a 6% cut.
Coal is in clear retreat: its share fell from 91.8% in 2015 to 85.8% in 2025, after peaking at 98.3% back in 2000.
Wind and solar together provided 7.7% of electricity (solar 2.2%, wind 5.6%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 60 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh. Wind adds 154 kWh per person.
Mongolia generates 2,755 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 71% of the global average. Imports cover around 22% of demand: Mongolia bought 2.7 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
Mongolia against the world and Asia averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 19,675 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Mongolia
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 8 utility-scale plants in Mongolia with a combined capacity of 0.9 GW. Coal plants account for the largest slice (89% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Ulaanbaatar-4 Thermal Power Plant (570 MW, Coal). 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 | Ulaanbaatar-4 Thermal Power Plant | Coal | 570 | 1984 | Thermal Power Plant-4 SSH Co |
| 2 | Ulaanbaatar-3 Thermal Power Plant | Coal | 198 | 2014 | Thermal Power Plant-3 SSH Co |
| 3 | Salkhit | Wind | 50 | 2013 | — |
| 4 | Dornod power station | Coal | 36 | 1982 | Central Energy System |
| 5 | Khushight Kundi | Solar | 15 | — | — |
| 6 | Zamyn-Üüd | Solar | 15 | — | — |
| 7 | Darkhan | Solar | 10 | — | — |
| 8 | Sumber Soum | Solar | 10 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 8 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Mongolia
29 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 189 MW of solar and 155 MW of wind operating, plus 2.5 GW under construction or planned.
How does Mongolia compare?
Mongolia 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mongolia | 8.4% | 8.4% | 91.6% | 816 | 2,755 | 9.7 | — | |
| China | 37% | 41.7% | 58.3% | 525 | 7,474 | 10,583 | Compare | |
| Russia | 17.4% | 35.7% | 64.3% | 450 | 8,283 | 1,193 | Compare | |
| North Korea | 63.4% | 63.4% | 36.6% | 341 | 1,023 | 27.1 | Compare | |
| South Korea | 10.4% | 40% | 60% | 417 | 12,090 | 625 | Compare | |
| Bhutan | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 13,897 | 11 | Compare | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 84.7% | 84.7% | 15.3% | 153 | 2,163 | 15.8 | Compare | |
| Asia average | 27.3% | 32.1% | 67.9% | 573 | 3,749 | 18,015 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Mongolia
Mongolia energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Mongolia is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Mongolia?
How clean is the electricity in Mongolia?
Does Mongolia have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Mongolia use per person?
How much solar power does Mongolia produce?
Does Mongolia import electricity?
More countries in Asia
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 2025. 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.