Electricity in Egypt in 2022

As of 2022, Egypt largely depends on fossil fuels for its electricity generation, producing a substantial 184.74 TWh from these sources. One of the leading contributors to this is gas, generating nearly 138 TWh. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources play a minor role in Egypt's energy profile. Total clean electricity production, including hydro, solar and wind, amounts to just over 23 TWh, with hydropower being the front runner within this category at 14.07 TWh and solar and wind trailing at 5.05 and 4.23 TWh, respectively. In comparison to the global average of 410 watts per person, Egypt's focus on fossil energy poses significant environmental and health impacts, including air pollution and climate change effects, while limiting the nation's potential for sustainable growth and development.

Suggestions

Egypt could garner a lot of potential and learn from countries that have successfully shifted towards the use of low-carbon energy for their electricity needs. Notably, countries like China and India, which have similar geographic and climate conditions, have achieved significant strides in low-carbon electricity generation, primarily in wind and solar power. China, for instance, has produced a whopping 964 TWh and 523 TWh from wind and solar, respectively. Likewise, India has also demonstrated strong performances in these sectors, producing 120 TWh from solar and 93 TWh from wind. Implementing similar practices, policies, and technologies could significantly increase electricity generation from low-carbon sources in Egypt, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

History

Historically, Egypt's journey in low-carbon energy, particularly hydropower, has been on a tumultuous path, showing unpredictable ups and downs since the mid-1980s. Hydroelectric generation saw a slight decrease in the mid-1980s, followed by a period of minor increases in the 1990s. Major downturns were observed in 2003, when hydroelectric generation fell by 1.1 TWh, and again in 2009 and 2010, where it decreased by 1.3 TWh and 0.9 TWh, respectively. In contrast, the last decade has marked an uptick in cleaner energies such as wind and solar power. 2015 witnessed the first notable increase in wind power, generating an additional 0.6 TWh. Furthermore, 2019 showed promising advancements with solar and wind power generation growing by 2.9 TWh and 1.2 TWh, respectively. This highlights a slowly yet progressively changing energy landscape in Egypt, with increased adoption and steady growth in the generation of low-carbon electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources