Electricity in Qatar in 2024

In 2024, Qatar's electricity consumption is overwhelmingly dependent on fossil fuels, with gas accounting for almost all of its energy needs, precisely 99.76%. This shows a significant reliance on non-sustainable sources, contributing to climate change and local air pollution. While worldwide nations focus increasingly on transitioning to low-carbon choices to create sustainable and environmentally friendly energy systems, Qatar's clean electricity generation is almost negligible. This situation underscores the urgent need for introducing low-carbon energy sources to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact.

Suggestions

To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Qatar can draw inspiration from numerous countries with successful clean energy strategies. For instance, France and Slovakia demonstrate the power of nuclear energy, with nuclear contributing to 68% and 62% of their electricity, respectively. Meanwhile, countries like Denmark and Ireland excel in leveraging wind power, achieving 52% and 32% of their electricity generation from wind, demonstrating the potential for Qatar to explore this sustainable source given its geographical conditions. Emulating such examples could result in significant shifts toward a more balanced energy mix with lower reliance on fossil fuels.

History

Historically, Qatar's journey in low-carbon electricity generation has been quite stagnant. Between 2011 and 2022, the contribution of solar and biofuels to electricity generation saw minimal advancement, with almost no significant developments or increase in capacity. The only notable change occurred in 2013 with a minor addition of 0.1 TWh from biofuels, but overall, the progress remained lackluster. This period was characterized by an absence of strategic initiatives to harness the potential of solar energy, despite Qatar's advantageous solar irradiance, indicating a missed opportunity to diversify its electricity sources and reduce reliance on fossil energy significantly.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources