Electricity in Saudi Arabia in 2023
As of 2023, Saudi Arabia's electricity generation is overwhelmingly dependent on fossil fuels, with over 98% of its electricity coming from such sources. Gas alone accounts for more than half of this distribution, making it a dominant player in the fossil category. Meanwhile, low-carbon electricity sources constitute a mere 1.36% of the total electricity generation. Solar energy, despite being a promising and rapidly growing sector globally, contributes just about 1% to the country's electricity mix. This low share of clean energy highlights a significant opportunity for improvement in the kingdom’s energy portfolio, emphasizing the urgent need to transition toward more sustainable forms of electricity generation to combat climate change and reduce air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Saudi Arabia?
Over recent years, Saudi Arabia’s per-person electricity consumption has slightly declined. In 2023, per capita electricity consumption reached 12,712 kWh/person, showing a minor reduction of 119 kWh/person from the previous record in 2017. On a more positive note, the generation of low-carbon electricity per person has shown tremendous growth. From 71 kWh/person in 2022 to 173 kWh/person in 2023, the country experienced an increase of 103 kWh in low-carbon electricity generation per person. This growth, although significant, still represents a small fraction of total electricity usage, indicating the need for continued improvement in promoting low-carbon electricity sources.
Suggestions
To boost its low-carbon electricity generation, Saudi Arabia can learn from successful regions. For instance, France and Slovakia generate more than 60% of their electricity from nuclear sources alone, showcasing the potential of nuclear power to provide a substantial and reliable clean energy supply. In terms of solar energy, Lebanon shows how solar can contribute over 30% to a region’s electricity mix. By expanding both solar and nuclear generation capabilities, Saudi Arabia can drastically enhance its low-carbon electricity production, aligning itself with global sustainability goals and leading the Middle East towards a cleaner, greener future.
History
Taking a look at the historical growth of low-carbon electricity in Saudi Arabia reveals a slow but gradually accelerating uptake. Throughout the early 21st century, there was no notable advancement in solar energy until 2018, when there was a slight increase of 0.1 TWh. The following years saw continued yet minimal increases in solar power, with a significant spike in 2023 as it jumped by 3.5 TWh. The initial absence of wind energy was corrected in 2022, with a noticeable boost of 1.4 TWh that demonstrated the potential of this clean technology. While this acceleration is promising, the history indicates that there has been much room for improvement, highlighting a critical need for consistent investment and focus on expanding the low-carbon electricity sector through both solar and wind solutions.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.