In 2022, Palestinian Territories relied on net imports for about 87% of electricity consumption. Domestic fossil-fuel generation supplied roughly 9%, while low-carbon generation—all solar—provided just over 4%. Imports therefore dominated electricity supply, with locally generated clean electricity still playing a small role. The data do not specify the generation sources behind imported electricity, so imports cannot be classified here as either low-carbon or fossil-based.

Is Electricity Growing in Palestinian Territories?

Electricity consumption per person was essentially stagnant in 2022, slipping to 1,455 kWh from the 2021 record of 1,464 kWh—a decline of 9 kWh, or less than 1%. That lack of growth is concerning as electrification increases the need for electricity. Clean electricity generation, however, made encouraging progress: it reached 64 kWh per person, up from the previous record of 42 kWh in 2021. That increase of 22 kWh represents growth of more than half, although from a modest base.

Suggestions

Palestinian Territories can expand low-carbon electricity generation by prioritizing rooftop solar, solar installations on public buildings, and larger projects where suitable, alongside storage and grid improvements. Nearby places offer useful examples: solar supplies about 15% of electricity generation in Jordan, almost a quarter in Cyprus, and nearly a third in Lebanon. Wind could complement solar where local resource assessments support it, drawing lessons from Morocco, where wind provides about 20% of generation. Nuclear should also be considered in long-term regional electricity planning, including cooperation on access to nuclear-generated electricity. The United Arab Emirates, with about 20% nuclear generation, and France, with roughly two-thirds, demonstrate nuclear power’s potential contribution to a substantial clean electricity supply.

History

The recorded history of low-carbon electricity in Palestinian Territories shows solar growth arriving in several steps. From 2015 through 2018, the data report no annual increases at the supplied precision. Solar generation then rose by about 0.1 TWh in each of 2019 and 2020, followed by no recorded increase in 2021. Growth resumed in 2022 with another gain of about 0.1 TWh. These advances are encouraging, but the intervening pauses underline the importance of sustained investment to make clean electricity growth consistent rather than intermittent.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade