Electricity in Egypt in 2024
In 2024, Egypt's electricity consumption predominantly relies on fossil fuels, which account for more than 88% of the total electricity generated, with natural gas being the major contributor at almost 82%. This heavy reliance on fossil energy highlights the country's pressing need for a transition toward more sustainable electricity sources. In contrast, low-carbon, clean energy makes up a little over 11% of the electricity generation. Among the low-carbon sources, hydropower leads with about 6%, while wind and solar contribute close to 3% and 2%, respectively. This distribution underlines the existing gap in Egypt's electricity system concerning the adoption of green energy solutions.
Suggestions
To expand its production of low-carbon electricity, Egypt could look to the successes of other countries that have significantly integrated sustainable energy sources. For instance, France, Slovakia, and Ukraine have successfully leveraged nuclear energy to generate substantial portions of their electricity, with shares at 68%, 62%, and 55%, respectively. Learning from Lebanon, which produces 31% of its electricity from solar, or Denmark, with 52% of its power from wind, can guide Egypt in bolstering its own solar and wind infrastructure. Doubling its efforts in these areas would not only decrease dependence on fossil fuels but also reduce the adverse environmental impacts associated with them, such as climate change and air pollution.
History
Historically, the progress of low-carbon electricity generation in Egypt has been marked by periodic advancements and setbacks. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, hydropower saw multiple increments, notably in 1999 and 2007 with increases of 1.3 and 1.4 TWh, respectively. However, there were years of decline too, such as in 2003, 2009, and 2010. In recent years, there has been significant momentum, particularly in the solar power sector, with 2020 marking a substantial increase of 3 TWh. Similarly, wind power generation experienced a boost with a notable surge in 2019 by 2 TWh. By continuing to focus on these clean energy sources and integrating more nuclear capacity, Egypt could dramatically transform its electricity generation landscape in the coming years.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.