Electricity in Algeria in 2023
In 2023, electricity consumption in Algeria was overwhelmingly dependent on fossil fuels, with close to all of the country's electricity—approximately 99%—being generated from these sources. Within this category, natural gas was the predominant fossil fuel, accounting for nearly 99% of total electricity generation. Contrastingly, low-carbon energy sources, which include solar, wind, and nuclear energy, contributed close to none at around 1%, revealing a significant area for improvement towards a cleaner energy mix.
Is Electricity Growing in Algeria?
The electricity consumption in Algeria has experienced a minor increase, indicating a hint of growth but not at a significant pace. In 2023, the average electricity consumption was 2086 kWh per person, showing an increase from the previous year's total of 2011 kWh per person. However, this growth in electricity usage is not mirrored by a similar rise in low-carbon electricity generation. On the contrary, the per capita low-carbon electricity generation decreased to 20 kWh, which marks a reduction from the historical peak of 29 kWh per person achieved in 1985. This decrease is concerning, considering the global need for expanding clean electricity sources to combat climate change and air pollution.
Suggestions
For Algeria to enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, examining the successful strategies of similar regions could be beneficial. With solar potential prevalent across the country due to its sunny climate, Algeria could follow the lead of Lebanon, where solar energy accounts for around a third of electricity generation. Additionally, tapping into nuclear energy, as France and Slovakia have demonstrated with nuclear contributing over 60% to their electricity generation, could also provide Algeria with a sustainable and reliable low-carbon energy source. Investing in these areas could significantly reduce the country's fossil fuel dependency and establish a more environmentally friendly power sector.
History
Looking into the history of low-carbon electricity generation in Algeria, hydroelectricity has been subject to fluctuations. In the early 1980s through to the late 2000s, hydroelectricity saw numerous small changes, with some years experiencing slight increases, while others saw declines. Notably, the late 1980s and early 2000s featured almost back-and-forth annual shifts, reflecting inconsistency in hydroelectric output. Since 2017, a promising albeit modest increase has occurred in solar energy production, hinting at a stepping stone for future growth. However, it's clear that more substantial changes are necessary to achieve meaningful gains in low-carbon electricity generation.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.