Electricity in Tunisia in 2024
Electricity consumption in Tunisia is currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with contributions from clean energy sources being quite limited. In 2024, almost 86% of Tunisia's electricity came from fossil sources, with gas alone contributing nearly the entire fossil portion. Clean energy sources, in contrast, contributed a much smaller share, accounting for about 3.5% of the electricity mix. Of the clean sources, solar power provided just above 2%, while wind energy contributed approximately 1.4%. Additionally, net imports made up around 11% of the electricity consumed, indicating a reliance on foreign electricity sources to compensate for domestic generation needs.
Is Electricity Growing in Tunisia?
The recent trends in electricity consumption in Tunisia are concerning, as they show a decline. As of 2024, the per capita electricity use stands at about 1899 kWh, which is a decrease from a peak of 1979 kWh per person in 2022. This drop of roughly 80 kWh per person reflects a downturn in domestic electricity demand or generation capability. On the clean energy front, the consumption of low-carbon electricity per person also fell slightly, from a record of 69 kWh in 2023 to 68 kWh in 2024. Such reductions in both total and clean electricity consumption are troubling, especially given the growing need to transition to a clean energy future as part of global climate initiatives.
Suggestions
Tunisia's potential to increase its clean electricity generation lies heavily in expanding solar and possibly introducing nuclear energy, drawing inspiration from successful regions. Countries like Lebanon have demonstrated significant progress in solar energy, sourcing 31% of their electricity from this source. Similarly, states like Nevada have reached solar generation levels of 27%. As for nuclear energy, countries such as Slovakia, where over 60% of electricity comes from nuclear sources, offer a compelling example of how nuclear power can substantially contribute to a low-carbon electricity mix. By harnessing its abundant sunlight and considering the introduction of nuclear power, Tunisia could improve its clean energy share, reduce reliance on imports, and ensure a sustainable energy future.
History
Historically, Tunisia's efforts in low-carbon electricity generation have experienced modest progress. Since the mid-1980s, the country has seen small but significant increments in hydroelectric power, with consistent annual upticks in various years such as 1985, 1987, and 1991. The 2000s brought a mixed experience, including gains in both wind and solar powers, although these were occasionally offset by declines. In recent years, particularly 2019 and beyond, there have been modest increases in solar power despite some setbacks. Overall, while the history shows Tunisia's ongoing efforts to diversify its electricity sources, the pace and scale of these changes have been limited, underscoring the importance of a more aggressive pursuit of clean energy strategies to meet future electricity demands and address environmental concerns.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.