In 2022, electricity consumption in Palestinian Territories depended overwhelmingly on net imports, which supplied about 87% of the total. Domestic fossil-fuel generation accounted for roughly 9%, while low-carbon generation provided just over 4%, entirely from solar. The data do not specify how imported electricity was generated, so imports cannot be classified as wholly fossil-based or clean.

Is Electricity Growing in Palestinian Territories?

Electricity consumption per person was essentially flat in 2022, slipping to 1,455 kWh from the previous record of 1,464 kWh in 2021—a decline of 9 kWh, or less than 1%. This stagnation is concerning as electrification and growing digital activity call for more electricity. Clean electricity generation, however, showed encouraging growth: it reached 64 kWh per person, up from the previous record of 42 kWh in 2021, an increase of just over half.

Suggestions

Palestinian Territories can increase low-carbon electricity generation by prioritizing rooftop solar, larger solar installations where feasible, and grid improvements to support expansion. Nearby examples offer useful lessons: solar supplies about 31% of electricity generation in Lebanon, 24% in Cyprus, and 15% in Jordan. Wind development could also be explored where local measurements demonstrate suitable conditions, drawing on Morocco, where wind supplies about 20% of generation. Nuclear should be considered within long-term regional electricity planning and cooperation: the United Arab Emirates generates about 20% of its electricity from nuclear, while France generates roughly two-thirds. Together, solar, suitable wind projects, and access to nuclear electricity through regional partnerships could expand clean electricity supply and reduce reliance on fossil generation, which contributes to climate change and air pollution.

History

The reported history of low-carbon electricity generation shows solar developing in modest steps. From 2015 through 2018, the data record no annual increase at the precision shown. Solar generation then rose by about 0.1 TWh in both 2019 and 2020, before showing no reported increase in 2021. Growth resumed in 2022 with another gain of about 0.1 TWh. These advances are encouraging, but sustained, faster expansion would help turn a small clean electricity contribution into a much stronger foundation for future supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade