Electricity in Qatar in 2024
Currently, electricity consumption in Qatar heavily relies on fossil fuels, with gas making up nearly all of its electricity generation at 99.76%. There's close to none of electricity coming from low-carbon sources, indicating an overwhelming dependence on fossil fuel-based energy. This over-reliance can contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need for Qatar to consider transitioning towards cleaner energy sources. The benefits of diversifying the electricity mix include reducing the negative impacts of climate change and improving air quality, while also aligning with global sustainability goals.
Is Electricity Growing in Qatar?
Electricity consumption in Qatar has indeed been on the rise, with the latest (2024) figures showing 19,684 kWh/person, surpassing the previous record in 2022 by 956 kWh/person. However, the contribution of low-carbon electricity has seen a decline, with just 47 kWh/person in 2024, down from the 54 kWh/person record in 2018. This stagnation in clean electricity growth is concerning as it reflects a missed opportunity to support sustainable development. To meet future demands and environmental commitments, it is essential that Qatar not only continues to grow its electricity consumption but does so by significantly increasing the share of low-carbon electricity generation.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Qatar can draw on successful examples from other countries. The United Arab Emirates, a regional peer, has achieved a remarkable 20% contribution from nuclear energy. Countries like France and Slovakia show the potential of nuclear energy to provide the majority of a country's electricity, with 68% and 62%, respectively. On the solar front, Lebanon generates 31% of its electricity from solar, demonstrating the feasibility of solar power in similar climatic regions. By investing in solar and nuclear energy infrastructure, Qatar could significantly enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, thus ensuring a sustainable and green energy future.
History
Reflecting on the history of low-carbon electricity generation in Qatar, it becomes evident that significant progress has yet to be made. Starting from 2011 through to 2022, there were minimal contributions from biofuels and solar, with minor activity seen in 2013 when biofuels experienced a slight increase of 0.1 TWh. The subsequent years, however, saw little to no progress in clean electricity development. This stagnation over more than a decade is quite disappointing. With Qatar's vast solar potential and global advancements in nuclear technology, it is crucial to capitalize on these opportunities to ensure, going forward, a more sustainable and diversified electricity grid.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.