Electricity in Lebanon in 2023
As of 2023, Lebanon relies heavily on fossil fuels for electricity generation, with more than half of its electricity (approximately 53%) derived from fossil energy sources. Despite this reliance, Lebanon has made significant strides in the adoption of low-carbon electricity, which now constitutes almost half of the nation's electricity consumption. Solar power is the key driver in the country’s clean energy landscape, contributing close to 31% of the electricity supply. Hydropower also plays a crucial role in Lebanon’s low-carbon energy mix, providing about 15% of the electricity. The country's gradual shift toward low-carbon energy sources is a promising step towards reducing its environmental impact and addressing the challenges of climate change.
Suggestions
To further increase the share of low-carbon electricity, Lebanon could expand its existing solar energy capacity, given its already substantial contribution. The development of solar infrastructure can be supported by investing in technology and enhancing policy frameworks to incentivize solar power projects. Moreover, Lebanon can learn from countries like Morocco and Greece, where wind power significantly contributes to their electricity mixes at 21% and 22%, respectively. These countries have successfully integrated wind energy into their grids, showcasing viable strategies for Lebanon to diversify its low-carbon energy portfolio. While wind energy could provide a complementary source of sustainable electricity, Lebanon's exploration of nuclear energy should not be overlooked, as evidenced by countries such as Armenia and the United Arab Emirates, where nuclear power generates up to 30% and 20% of the electricity, respectively.
History
Lebanon’s history with low-carbon electricity, particularly hydropower, has seen fluctuations over the years. In the 1980s and early 1990s, hydropower generation experienced modest declines, but a period of recovery followed with positive changes throughout the mid-1990s and early 2000s. Significant annual decreases such as in 1999 and the substantial drop in 2014 illustrate challenges, perhaps due to infrastructure limitations or environmental factors. However, recent years have seen a resurgence, with a notable increase in 2019, before facing another decline in 2021. A promising development occurred in 2021 with the introduction of solar power, which saw an increase in generation of 1.2 TWh by 2022. This suggests that Lebanon is slowly but surely advancing in its journey towards a more sustainable electricity landscape.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.