In 2023, Israel’s electricity consumption remained heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which supplied almost 90% of the total. Gas accounted for about 71% and coal for about 18%. Low-carbon sources supplied just over 10%, with solar contributing roughly 9% of all electricity—almost the entire clean electricity share. Expanding low-carbon generation would help reduce the climate impacts and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Israel?

The growth picture is mixed: Israel’s electricity consumption per person has not surpassed its historical peak, but clean electricity generation per person reached a new record. Total consumption in 2023 was about 8,040 kWh per person, roughly 250 kWh, or 3%, below the 2019 record. Meanwhile, low-carbon generation reached 845 kWh per person, up about 210 kWh, or 33%, from its previous record in 2022. This clean electricity growth is encouraging, although the consumption figures do not establish whether total nationwide electricity consumption grew. More clean electricity will be needed to support electrification and growing demand from AI.

Suggestions

Israel should accelerate solar deployment and consider developing nuclear electricity alongside it. Nearby Cyprus and Lebanon demonstrate substantial solar contributions, at about 23% and 31% of electricity respectively; the sunny US states of Nevada and California reach about 35% and 31%. These examples support expanding rooftop and utility-scale solar, complemented by storage and grid investment. For nuclear, Israel could learn from the United Arab Emirates, where it supplies 20% of electricity, and France, where it supplies about two-thirds. Together, solar and nuclear offer a strong foundation for expanding dependable low-carbon electricity.

History

Israel’s recorded low-carbon electricity growth has been driven mainly by solar. After no recorded solar increase in 2010, annual gains during 2011–2016 ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 TWh, followed by another 0.1 TWh increase in 2018. Solar expansion then accelerated: generation rose by 1 TWh in 2019, 0.9 TWh in 2020, 1 TWh in 2021 and 0.8 TWh in 2022, before adding 1.6 TWh in 2023—the largest solar increase listed. Wind made smaller contributions, rising by 0.2 TWh in 2017 and 0.1 TWh in 2019, declining by 0.1 TWh in 2020, then increasing by 0.1 TWh in 2022 and 0.4 TWh in 2023. Biofuels recorded no change in 2016 and a modest 0.1 TWh increase in 2020. Overall, the stronger solar and wind gains in 2023 marked encouraging progress toward more clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade