Electricity in Saudi Arabia in 2021

In 2021, Saudi Arabia's electricity consumption depended critically on fossil fuels, representing nearly 100% of the energy mix. The two primary sources were gas and oil which contributed almost 60% and slightly more than 40% respectively, to the nation's electricity supply. Low-carbon energy contributed a minute fraction, nearly undetectable in the country's electricity profile.

Suggestions

To shift towards a more sustainable electricity supply, Saudi Arabia can take cues from other countries that have successfully integrated low-carbon sources in their energy portfolio. Since Saudi Arabia's climate is suitable for solar energy, it can follow Jordan's path which generates 16% of its electricity from solar energy. The desert kingdom can also consider wind energy like Denmark, which derives 59% of its power from this source. Although geographically and climatically there are no exact correspondences, Saudi Arabia can draw inspiration from France and Slovakia's use of nuclear power for 66% and 61% of their electricity needs respectively. Despite its current dependency on fossil fuels, Saudi Arabia has started making inroads into low-carbon energy in recent years. The data suggests a rather static development from 2008 to 2017, with solar energy having zero contribution to their electricity generation. However, this changed in 2018 when solar energy contributed a slight increment of 0.1 TWh compared to the previous year. This incremental yet important gain continued in 2019. Even though there was no growth in 2020, 2021 saw an encouraging rise, with solar generation increasing significantly to 0.6 TWh, marking a clear shift in the country's energy paradigm. Despite these positive increments in solar energy, wind energy remains yet unexplored, offering a potential area of growth for Saudi Arabia in the future.

History

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources