Electricity in Palestinian Territories in 2022

The current state of electricity consumption in the Palestinian Territories is heavily reliant on net imports, which account for almost 88% of the total electricity used. Fossil fuels make up roughly 9%, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and presenting challenges such as air pollution and climate change. Low-carbon or clean energy sources are currently a small portion of the electricity mix, with solar power comprising the entire share at almost 3%. This indicates that there is a significant opportunity for growth in local, sustainable electricity generation, particularly from solar, wind, and potentially nuclear sources.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, the Palestinian Territories can learn from the successful examples of other countries. For instance, Denmark generates over 60% of its electricity from wind power, demonstrating the feasibility of integrating large-scale wind energy. Greece and Chile have both successfully expanded their solar energy sectors to over 20%, showing that similar climates can support a substantial solar power infrastructure. Additionally, countries with limited space, such as the Netherlands, have managed to achieve significant solar generation, thereby illustrating the effectiveness of rooftop solar installations and other innovative uses of space. These examples underscore the importance of adopting policies that support the deployment of solar and wind technologies, as well as investigating the vast potential of nuclear energy for long-term sustainability.

History

In the history of low-carbon electricity in the Palestinian Territories, progress has been gradual and recent. From 2015 to 2018, there was no measurable increase in solar power generation. A slight increase was observed in 2019 and 2020, with each year adding 0.1 TWh of solar electricity. However, no additional capacity was added in 2021 and 2022. The consistency in solar power generation since 2019 indicates an initial movement towards cleaner energy sources, although the overall growth has been modest. To achieve a more sustainable and resilient electricity system, it is essential to build on this foundation and further expand the adoption of solar, wind, and potentially nuclear energy in the coming years.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources