Electricity in Saudi Arabia in 2023

As of 2023, electricity consumption in Saudi Arabia is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Approximately 99% of the country’s electricity is generated from fossil sources, with natural gas alone accounting for over 60% of the total. In stark contrast, low-carbon energy sources make up a mere 1.4% of total electricity generation. Within this small fraction, solar energy contributes just above 1%, while wind energy is almost negligible. This highlights a significant imbalance, as the nation has yet to widely adopt clean energy solutions.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Saudi Arabia can look to successful strategies employed by other nations. Countries with similar economic and climatic conditions, such as the UAE, have integrated nuclear energy into their grids, achieving about 20% low-carbon electricity. Additionally, Saudi Arabia can learn from Greece and its extensive deployment of solar energy, which makes up over 20% of its electricity mix. Diversifying sources by investing in both nuclear and solar energy can provide a stable and sustainable solution, much like in France and Denmark, which generate most of their electricity from nuclear and wind energy respectively.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Saudi Arabia shows a sluggish start with substantial progress only beginning recently. From 2008 to 2017, there was virtually no contribution from solar energy and the introduction of wind energy saw no actual output. A modest 0.1 TWh of solar energy appeared in both 2018 and 2019. The major shift began in 2021, with solar energy production rising by 0.6 TWh. The breakthrough in wind energy came in 2022 with a significant increase of 1.4 TWh, followed by a remarkable leap in solar energy to 3.5 TWh in 2023. These recent advancements indicate a pivotal move towards integrating more low-carbon technologies in the nation’s electricity grid.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources