Nigeria energy mix & electricity
Power plants in Nigeria produced 41.5 TWh of electricity in 2025. More than half of it, 68.7%, came from natural gas; hydropower was a distant second with 30.9%.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 28.53 | 68.7% | −11.8 |
| Hydro | 12.82 | 30.9% | +11.5 |
| Solar | 0.13 | 0.3% | +0.2 |
| Bioenergy | 0.06 | 0.1% | +0.1 |
| Total | 41.54 | 100% |
Nigeria: electricity in context
Power plants in Nigeria produced 41.5 TWh of electricity in 2025. That is similar to Hungary. More than half of it, 68.7%, came from natural gas; hydropower was a distant second with 30.9%.
Renewables supplied 31.3% of the electricity, which ranks Nigeria 88th of 158 countries. This puts it 2 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Africa (24.7%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 456 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. The grid is more carbon-intensive than the world average. On carbon intensity, Nigeria ranks 85th of 158 from the cleanest.
Since 2015, the fastest-growing source has been hydropower: its output rose by 6.4 TWh, lifting its share by 11.5 percentage points. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 11.8 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 8.4 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 530 to 456 g/kWh, a 14% cut.
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Nigeria in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar remain marginal in Nigeria, together supplying under 1% of electricity.
Nigeria generates 175 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 5% of the global average. Nigeria is a net exporter, selling 2.3 TWh more electricity abroad than it imports (6% of domestic demand).
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
Nigeria against the world and Africa averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 2,343 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Nigeria
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 13 utility-scale plants in Nigeria with a combined capacity of 6.3 GW. Gas plants account for the largest slice (69% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Alaoji (1,074 MW, Gas). 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 | Alaoji | Gas | 1,074 | — | — |
| 2 | Kainji | Hydro | 760 | — | Government of Nigeria |
| 3 | Olorunsogo II | Gas | 750 | — | — |
| 4 | Shiroro | Hydro | 600 | — | Government of Nigeria |
| 5 | Calabar | Gas | 561 | — | Calabar Generation Company |
| 6 | Jebba | Hydro | 540 | — | Government of Nigeria |
| 7 | Omotosho II | Gas | 500 | — | — |
| 8 | Ihovbor | Gas | 450 | — | — |
| 9 | Sapele | Gas | 450 | — | Ihovbor Generating Company |
| 10 | Gbarain | Gas | 225 | — | Gbarain Generation Company |
| 11 | Ibom Power | Gas | 190 | — | — |
| 12 | Omoku | Gas | 150 | — | Sahara Power |
| 13 | Ibadan | Solar | 10 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 13 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Nigeria
63 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 155 MW of solar and 10 MW of wind operating, plus 2.5 GW under construction or planned.
How does Nigeria compare?
Nigeria 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 31.3% | 31.3% | 68.7% | 456 | 175 | 41.5 | — | |
| Cameroon | 73.1% | 73.1% | 26.9% | 226 | 249 | 7.3 | Compare | |
| Benin | 4% | 4% | 96% | 584 | 70 | 1 | Compare | |
| Niger | 3.2% | 3.2% | 96.8% | 674 | 35 | 1 | Compare | |
| Chad | 5.4% | 5.4% | 94.6% | 622 | 18 | 0.4 | Compare | |
| Togo | 29.6% | 29.6% | 70.4% | 423 | 84 | 0.7 | Compare | |
| Equatorial Guinea | 26.8% | 26.8% | 73.2% | 644 | 787 | 1.5 | 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 Nigeria
Nigeria energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Nigeria is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Nigeria?
How clean is the electricity in Nigeria?
Does Nigeria have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Nigeria use per person?
How much solar power does Nigeria produce?
Does Nigeria 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 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.