Electricity in Saudi Arabia in 2023

In 2023, the electricity consumption in Saudi Arabia is overwhelmingly reliant on fossil fuels, which make up nearly 99% of the energy mix. Natural gas constitutes more than 60% of this share, highlighting the country's heavy dependence on fossil-based energy sources. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources contribute a mere 1.36% to the total electricity generation. Within this small clean energy segment, solar power makes up the majority, contributing just over 1% of the total electricity. This stark contrast in energy types underscores the significant gap Saudi Arabia faces in diversifying its energy sources to include more sustainable options.

Suggestions

To enhance the share of low-carbon electricity generation, Saudi Arabia can draw lessons from other nations that have successfully integrated clean energy into their grids. The United Arab Emirates, geographically and culturally similar to Saudi Arabia, generates 20% of its electricity from nuclear energy. Countries like France lead with 68% of their electricity generated from nuclear power, demonstrating the potential of nuclear as a reliable and significant clean energy source. Additionally, Mediterranean nations like Spain and Greece have successfully incorporated solar power, contributing upwards of 20% of their electricity mix. Saudi Arabia could focus on leveraging its abundant solar resources and also consider adopting nuclear infrastructure to expedite the transition towards a greener electricity portfolio.

History

Historically, Saudi Arabia’s journey in adopting low-carbon electricity has been gradual but shows recent promising developments. From 2008 until 2017, there was no recorded increase in solar or wind electricity, indicating a stagnant period for clean energy investments. However, things began to improve slightly in 2018 with small increments in solar power generation, reaching 0.1 TWh annually. A more noticeable change occurred after 2020, especially with a surge in solar electricity by 3.5 TWh in 2023 and a noteworthy boost in wind power by 1.4 TWh in 2022. These advancements reflect a growing commitment towards expanding low-carbon energy sources, though there remains vast potential for Saudi Arabia to intensify its efforts in scaling up clean electricity generation in the coming years.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources