Electricity in Kuwait in 2024
In Kuwait's current electricity generation landscape, a significant majority of electricity, more than 97%, is sourced from fossil fuels, with gas contributing 51% to this total. This indicates that the country leans heavily on fossil energy to meet its electricity demands. Low-carbon or clean energy sources account for a small fraction, standing at approximately 2%. Within this sector, wind energy plays a dominant role, contributing nearly 2%, while other clean energy forms are close to negligible. As Kuwait strives to modernize and become more energy-efficient, increasing the share of low-carbon electricity will be crucial to reducing the environmental impact and aligning with global clean energy goals.
Is Electricity Growing in Kuwait?
When analyzing the growth in electricity consumption in Kuwait, there appears to be a downward trend when measured by per capita consumption. In 2024, electricity consumption per person amounts to 18,116 kWh, representing a decline from the record of over 20,000 kWh per person in 2006. This observation suggests that electricity consumption per capita has seen a reduction, decreasing by more than 2,000 kWh. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation per person has experienced a slight decline, with the current level at 395 kWh per person compared to the 2022 record of 414 kWh per person. The decrease in both total and low-carbon electricity consumption could hinder Kuwait's progress towards energy sustainability, necessitating a strategic focus on increasing its clean energy portfolio.
Suggestions
To increase its share of low-carbon electricity, Kuwait could look towards international counterparts that have successfully integrated more significant proportions of low-carbon sources, such as nuclear and solar, into their energy mix. France and the UAE are exemplary models, as their electricity generation from nuclear sources is substantial, with France reaching 68%. Similarly, for regions with abundant solar potential, solar can be a game-changer. Lebanon, for instance, generates 31% of its electricity via solar energy. Adopting a diversified approach that combines both nuclear and solar energy could maximize Kuwait's use of its natural resources while significantly boosting its clean electricity output.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Kuwait has been marked by sluggish progress over the years. Throughout the 2010s, from 2013 to 2020, there was no recorded increase in both wind and solar electricity. The first notable change occurred in 2021 when solar energy saw an incremental increase of 0.1 TWh. In 2022, wind energy experienced more substantial growth, increasing by 1.7 TWh, marking the first significant uptake in clean electricity production for the country. However, solar electricity production stagnated afterward with no change in 2023, indicating that there is considerable room for improvement and expansion in Kuwait’s pursuit of green energy. Encouragingly, these small steps in wind energy showcase the potential to expand further, and similar focus must now be directed toward solar and nuclear alternatives to foster a sustainable energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.