Electricity in Israel in 2023
In 2023, Israel's electricity consumption landscape shows a strong reliance on fossil energy, with close to 90% of its electricity generated from fossil sources. Natural gas makes up more than 70% of this, and coal contributes almost 18%. In comparison, low-carbon or clean energy sources account for just over 10% of the total electricity generation, with solar power constituting more than 9% of that figure. While this demonstrates some progress in integrating solar energy into the electricity mix, there is much room for improvement in Israel's journey towards a greener energy future. An increase in clean electricity will substantially mitigate the adverse effects of fossil fuels, such as climate change and air pollution, which are matters of growing concern globally.
Is Electricity Growing in Israel?
When considering whether electricity consumption is growing in Israel, recent data reveals a slight decline, posing a cause for concern. The per capita electricity consumption in 2023 stands at approximately 8039 kWh, which is slightly lower than the 2019 record of 8312 kWh per person. This gap of 273 kWh indicates a need for strategies to boost electricity use sustainably, especially as Israel keeps expanding technologically. However, it is worth noting that in 2023, per capita low-carbon electricity generation rose to 845 kWh, marking a positive increase of 208 kWh from the previous year. This growth highlights Israel's potential to advance its clean energy initiatives and reduce its dependence on fossil energy sources, especially necessary for future energy demands.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Israel can take inspiration from other countries that have successfully expanded their clean energy portfolios. For instance, France and Slovakia have achieved high percentages of electricity from nuclear energy, covering 68% and 62% respectively, which Israel could aspire to emulate. Moreover, neighboring Lebanon's notable achievement of generating 31% of its electricity from solar power presents an excellent opportunity for Israel to accelerate its efforts in harnessing solar energy, given Israel's abundant sunlight. By adopting such strategies and policies, Israel could significantly increase its share of clean electricity, which would help mitigate the adverse impacts of heavy reliance on fossil fuels and leverage the positive aspects of sustainable energy.
History
Examining the history of low-carbon electricity in Israel reveals a steady climb in solar energy generation over the past decade. Following 2010, where solar energy generation was negligible, there was consistent growth, especially from 2019 onwards with substantial annual increases, reaching an impressive addition of 1.6 TWh in 2023. Wind energy has also started to show potential, with contributions beginning in 2017 and peaking with a 0.4 TWh increase in 2023. While biofuels made small gains in a few years, it is solar energy that marks the most significant pathway towards substantial clean electricity in Israel. This consistent growth serves as a positive momentum for Israel to further augment its low-carbon electricity production and transition into a more sustainable energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.