South Korea Electricity Generation & Grid Mix
In 2025, South Korea generated 624.66 TWh of electricity (1.97% of global output, ranked #8 worldwide). Its primary generation source was Coal at 194.53 TWh (31.1% of the national grid), while low-carbon sources (nuclear + renewables) provided 40.0% of total supply.
South Korea Electricity Generation by Source (2025)
2025 Total Output: 624.66 TWh · Carbon Intensity: 417 gCO2/kWh
South Korea Electricity Generation & Capacity by Source (2025)
| Generation Source | 2025 Output (TWh) | Grid Share (%) | Installed Capacity (GW) | 5Y Change | Share of World Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 194.53 TWh | 31.1% | 41.74 GW | -6.5% | 1.9% |
| Nuclear | 184.67 TWh | 29.6% | 26.05 GW | +15.3% | 6.6% |
| Natural Gas | 174.58 TWh | 27.9% | 50.26 GW | +7.4% | 2.5% |
| Solar | 37.80 TWh | 6.0% | 30.35 GW | +95.4% | 1.4% |
| Bioenergy | 19.69 TWh | 3.1% | 2.71 GW | +40.3% | 2.8% |
| Oil & Other Fossil | 5.95 TWh | 0.9% | 3.49 GW | -1.2% | 0.7% |
| Hydroelectric | 3.80 TWh | 0.6% | 1.83 GW | -2.1% | 0.1% |
| Wind | 3.64 TWh | 0.6% | 2.45 GW | +15.6% | 0.1% |
South Korea Historical Generation & Emissions Ledger (2000-2025)
| Year | Total (TWh) | Coal | Gas | Nuclear | Hydro | Wind | Solar | Clean % | gCO2/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 624.7 | 194.5 | 174.6 | 184.7 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 37.8 | 40.0% | 417 |
| 2024 | 625.4 | 190.8 | 178.4 | 188.8 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 32.7 | 39.9% | 416 |
| 2023 | 617.5 | 201.3 | 169.6 | 180.5 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 33.2 | 38.8% | 427 |
| 2022 | 622.6 | 209.2 | 174.7 | 176.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 30.7 | 37.2% | 438 |
| 2021 | 607.8 | 213.3 | 181.2 | 158 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 24.7 | 33.9% | 460 |
| 2020 | 577.1 | 208 | 162.5 | 160.2 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 19.3 | 34.8% | 458 |
| 2019 | 586.8 | 245 | 155.4 | 145.9 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 14.2 | 30.5% | 497 |
| 2018 | 592.9 | 257.7 | 163.3 | 133.5 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 10.2 | 27.2% | 519 |
| 2017 | 576.4 | 260.8 | 135.2 | 148.4 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 7.7 | 29.6% | 512 |
| 2016 | 561 | 232.9 | 130.5 | 162 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 5.5 | 32.1% | 489 |
| 2015 | 547.8 | 232.7 | 122 | 164.8 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 4.2 | 32.9% | 488 |
| 2014 | 540.4 | 226.1 | 130.8 | 156.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 31.3% | 493 |
| 2013 | 537.2 | 223.8 | 143.9 | 138.8 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 27.7% | 512 |
| 2012 | 531.2 | 223.4 | 128.9 | 150.3 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 29.8% | 502 |
| 2011 | 518.2 | 225.1 | 115.3 | 154.7 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 31.3% | 497 |
| 2010 | 495 | 218.4 | 104.3 | 148.6 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 31.2% | 500 |
| 2009 | 452.5 | 209.4 | 71.4 | 147.8 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 33.7% | 495 |
| 2008 | 442.6 | 191 | 81.7 | 151 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 35.1% | 477 |
| 2007 | 425.4 | 170.9 | 84.4 | 142.9 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 34.6% | 474 |
| 2006 | 403 | 154 | 74.8 | 148.8 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 37.9% | 451 |
| 2005 | 389.5 | 150.4 | 64.5 | 146.8 | 3.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 38.7% | 450 |
| 2004 | 368 | 143.4 | 63.2 | 130.7 | 4.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 36.8% | 463 |
| 2003 | 347.8 | 139.1 | 45.5 | 129.7 | 4.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 38.8% | 458 |
| 2002 | 332 | 137.5 | 42.9 | 119.1 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 36.9% | 473 |
| 2001 | 309.9 | 127.4 | 33.7 | 112.1 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 37.0% | 475 |
| 2000 | 290.5 | 114.9 | 29.7 | 109 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 38.9% | 462 |
Frequently Asked Questions - South Korea Power Grid
How much electricity does South Korea generate and what is its #1 power source?
In 2025, South Korea generated 624.66 TWh of electricity (1.97% of global output). Its largest single generation source was Coal at 194.53 TWh (31.1% of the national grid mix).
What share of South Korea's electricity comes from clean and renewable sources?
Low-carbon sources (nuclear plus renewables) supplied 40.0% of South Korea's electricity in 2025, with renewables accounting for 10.4% and wind plus solar contributing 6.6%. Fossil fuels accounted for 60.0% of total generation.
What is the carbon intensity of South Korea's electricity grid?
In 2025, South Korea's power sector carbon intensity was 417.1 gCO2/kWh, with total power sector emissions of 260.57 million metric tons of CO2.