In 2022, Jordan's electricity consumption was heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with fossil sources making up a considerable 77% of the total electricity generated. Of this, a dominant portion came from gas, which accounted for almost 73%. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources contributed just over 23% to the overall electricity mix. Solar energy emerged as the leading clean source, supplying a significant 15% of electricity, while wind energy provided close to 8%. This indicates a substantial reliance on fossil fuels, but also showcases a significant contribution from clean energy sources, which is promising for reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.
Is Electricity Growing in Jordan?
Assessing the trend in electricity consumption in Jordan reveals a decline when compared to the past. The total electricity consumption per person in 2022 stood at 2011 kWh, which is a decrease from the 2012 peak of 2276 kWh per person, indicating a drop of 265 kWh per person. However, it's encouraging to note that low-carbon electricity generation per person is on the rise. In 2022, low-carbon electricity generation increased to 464 kWh per person, which exceeds the previous record of 444 kWh per person set in 2021. This modest increase by 20 kWh per person highlights progress towards greener energy, despite the overall decline in electricity consumption.
Suggestions
To further increase low-carbon electricity generation, Jordan could expand existing solar infrastructures, building on the substantial 15% of electricity it currently generates from this clean source. Additionally, Jordan can draw valuable lessons from other regions successfully utilizing both solar and nuclear energy. For example, Lebanon has effectively harnessed solar energy, generating a striking 31% of its electricity through this clean source. Similarly, countries like France and Slovakia have been highly successful in deploying nuclear power, with more than half of their electricity coming from nuclear energy. By continuing to prioritize and expand upon these low-carbon technologies, Jordan could significantly enhance its sustainable electricity capacity in the years ahead.
History
In examining the history of low-carbon electricity in Jordan, it is clear that significant strides have been made, particularly in the last decade. From 2015 onward, solar and wind energy have seen steady increments. Notably, solar energy began to grow substantially in 2015, adding 0.1 TWh, and continued to increase each subsequent year, peaking with a 0.8 TWh increase in 2021. Wind energy also noted a consistent uptick, starting with 0.1 TWh in 2015 and seeing incremental increases each year. However, hydroelectric power has not changed since 2000, showing no new contributions; this reflects a missed opportunity compared to the dynamic growth seen in solar and wind. Overall, these trends highlight an encouraging pattern of increased reliance on sustainable energy sources, positioning Jordan to further its commitment to low-carbon electricity generation and diminish its dependency on fossil fuels.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.