Electricity in Eritrea in 2022
Global Ranking:
#185
2.6% #177 Low-carbon electricity
111.45
kWh #199 Generation / person
In 2022, Eritrea's electricity consumption was extremely low, with generation per person amounting to close to none compared to the global average of 3638 watts per person. The vast majority of electricity in Eritrea was derived from fossil fuels, with minimal low-carbon or clean energy contributions such as wind or solar. Due to this heavy reliance on fossil energy, Eritrea faces potential challenges, including air pollution and contributing to climate change. The low level of electricity generation restricts economic growth, hampers technological advancement, and limits access to modern amenities, affecting the quality of life and hindering development efforts across the nation.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Eritrea can look towards examples set by countries that have successfully harnessed solar and wind power. For instance, countries like India and Turkey have seen significant solar and wind energy development, generating 128 TWh and 91 TWh from solar and wind, respectively. By focusing on investments in solar and wind sectors, Eritrea can capitalize on its geographic advantages, such as abundant sunlight, to increase clean energy production. Looking at India and Brazil's efforts, both similar in their Sun Belt proximity, Eritrea could adopt similar strategies, including streamlined policies and international collaboration, to boost its clean energy portfolio and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
History
Historically, Eritrea has seen negligible growth in low-carbon electricity generation, with no significant changes from solar or wind sources recorded from the late 1990s through 2019. The data indicates that since 1997, Eritrea's development in solar energy has stagnated with no measurable increase each year. Similarly, attempts to incorporate wind energy beginning in 2008 also yielded no substantial results through 2010. This lack of development in clean electricity over the past decades suggests a critical need for Eritrea to invest aggressively in these sustainable technologies moving forward to not only address energy deficits but also to enhance national resilience against the impacts of climate change.
Electricity Imports and Exports
Balance of Trade
Data Sources