Electricity in Egypt in 2024
In 2024, Egypt's electricity generation continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels, with gas and oil accounting for the majority. Gas alone contributes more than 80% to the overall electricity mix, and together with oil, fossil fuels represent close to nine-tenths of total electricity production. However, low-carbon energy sources like hydropower and solar offer a glimpse of Egypt's potential green future, albeit currently contributing just over a tenth of the total electricity. Among these clean energy sources, hydropower leads, yet only makes up approximately 7% of the mix. Meanwhile, wind and solar energy are emerging sectors, each providing just around 3% or less.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Egypt?
Egypt is experiencing encouraging growth in electricity consumption. With electricity usage rising from 1934 kWh/person in 2023 to 2036 kWh/person in 2024, individuals are demonstrating an increasing demand for energy. This mirrors similar growth in low-carbon electricity generation, which increased from a previous high of 232 kWh/person in 2022 to 244 kWh/person in 2024. Despite being a relatively modest improvement, this positive change is essential for reducing dependence on fossil fuels and powering Egypt's future sustainably. Maintaining this upward trend is critical to meet the growing energy needs while minimizing environmental and health impacts from fossil fuel dependency.
Suggestions
For Egypt to enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, looking towards regions with robust clean energy portfolios could be incredibly instructive. Countries like France and Slovakia derive nearly two-thirds of their electricity from nuclear energy, setting an impressive standard for what is achievable. Similarly, Denmark's embrace of wind energy, accounting for 60% of its electricity, exemplifies how wind could play a larger role in Egypt's energy mix. Emphasizing solar and nuclear, Egypt could draw inspiration from regions like California, where solar contributes over 30% to their electricity, or New Mexico, which adeptly uses both wind and solar. These examples highlight viable pathways for Egypt to diversify and expand its clean energy capacity sustainably and effectively, ultimately helping to mitigate the issues associated with fossil fuel emissions.
History
Egypt's journey with low-carbon electricity has seen a series of ups and downs. Since the 1980s, hydropower has been a staple of Egypt's electricity generation, with fluctuating increases and declines. Notable growth years included the late 1990s and 2007, where significant gains in hydropower output were recorded. Conversely, the early 2000s and the period around 2016 saw declines. Recent years have witnessed promising developments, with innovations in solar and wind energy leading to noteworthy increases. Specifically, since 2019, solar has consistently expanded its output, contributing significantly more in 2020, while wind capacity also grew in 2019 and again in 2024. These historical trends underscore the importance of consistent investment and policy support to bolster Egypt’s capacity for sustainable electricity generation in the years ahead.
