Electricity in Syria in 2022

As of 2022, Syria's electricity consumption is predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, accounting for about 95% of its total electricity generation. More than half of the electricity comes from gas, at around 54%. Only a small fraction, around 5%, is generated from low-carbon sources. Among the low-carbon options, hydropower is the primary contributor, making up almost all of it—approximately 4.5%. This reliance on fossil fuels, with such a minimal contribution from clean energy sources, indicates a significant potential for Syria to diversify its energy portfolio and reduce its environmental footprint.

Suggestions

To increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Syria can look to successful models from other countries that have significantly integrated nuclear and wind energy into their grids. For example, countries like France and Slovakia generate around 67% and 60% of their electricity from nuclear energy, respectively. Closer to Syria, Ukraine meets 55% of its electricity needs through nuclear power. On the wind energy front, Denmark leads with 61% of its electricity coming from wind turbines. Uruguay and Ireland successfully generate 36% and 34% of their electricity from wind energy, respectively. Syria can consider adopting policies and investment strategies from these countries to diversify its own energy mix towards more sustainable and clean sources like nuclear and wind.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Syria shows a pattern of fluctuations primarily in hydropower generation. In the early 1980s, there was modest growth with slight increases in hydropower output. Significant increases were seen in the years 2000 and 2004, with jumps of 0.5 TWh and 1.4 TWh, respectively. However, Syria also experienced several years of decline in hydropower, notably between 2006 and 2009, and again in 2015 with a substantial drop of 1.9 TWh. The sporadic gains and losses in hydropower generation suggest an instability in this low-carbon energy source's output. By looking into more stable and consistent sources of clean energy, such as nuclear and wind, Syria can achieve a more reliable and environmentally friendly electricity generation system.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources