Electricity in Egypt in 2024
In Egypt, electricity consumption currently relies heavily on fossil fuels, accounting for almost 90% of the total electricity generated in the country. The dominant source within this category is gas, which forms a significant majority, at approximately 82% of total electricity consumption. On the other hand, low-carbon or clean energy sources contribute around 11.6% to the nation's electricity mix. Within this category, hydropower is the leading source of clean energy, providing a little over half of the low-carbon share, followed by wind power at slightly under 3%, and solar energy, which contributes close to 2.5%. These figures indicate that while low-carbon sources are present, Egypt's current electricity generation heavily leans on fossil-based sources, posing challenges related to climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Egypt?
Egypt has seen growth in its electricity consumption over the recent years. As of 2024, total electricity consumption has reached approximately 2020 kWh per person. This marks an increase from 1924 kWh per person in 2022, representing a positive change of 96 kWh per person. Low-carbon electricity generation has also seen a slight uptick, with the latest figures showing 234 kWh per person compared to the previous record of 225 kWh per person in 2020, a minimal increase of 9 kWh. Despite the growth in both total and low-carbon electricity consumption, the pace of increase in low-carbon generation undershoots the broader trend, hinting at the potential need for policy and investment focus to accelerate clean energy efforts.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Egypt can look towards international examples of successful energy strategies. Regions like Denmark and Iowa have demonstrated remarkable achievements in wind energy, with more than half of their electricity coming from this sustainable source. Meanwhile, countries such as France and Slovakia exemplify the integration of nuclear energy into their grids, generating over 60% of their electricity from nuclear power. For Egypt, expanding its solar and wind energy capabilities could significantly enhance its sustainable electricity share. Collaborating with nations like Lebanon and Nevada, which have significant solar energy generation, could be beneficial. Moreover, considering the addition of nuclear energy could provide a stable and substantial increase in low-carbon electricity capacity, drawing inspiration from numerous countries with successful nuclear programs.
History
Historically, Egypt's journey in low-carbon electricity has seen various phases of growth and occasional declines. The 1980s and 1990s showcased investments in hydropower, with notable increases recorded in 1989 and 1999. However, the early 2000s experienced volatility with declines in hydropower of over 1 TWh in some years. The past decade marked an encouraging shift with the introduction and gradual growth of wind and solar power. Particularly, 2019 was a notable year, showing increases in wind, hydro, and solar generations. This momentum continued into 2020, with significant solar power growth of 3 TWh. In recent years, there have been fluctuations, though, with wind energy adding 1.2 TWh in 2024. For the sustainable future of its electricity sector, Egypt should focus on maintaining and expanding this clean energy trajectory.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.