Yemen's electricity consumption is notably low in 2023, with total electricity generation primarily fueled by fossil energy, accounting for approximately 2.55 TWh. Low-carbon energy generation, including solar power, contributes to almost none of the total consumption per person. With each person in Yemen averaging around 78 kWh annually, the usage is drastically below the global average of 3,662 kWh per person. The notable gap between Yemen's consumption and the global average highlights significant challenges, including limited access to electricity, which can stunt economic growth and development, limit educational and healthcare services, and reduce quality of life due to reliance on less clean and reliable energy sources.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Yemen?
Electricity consumption in Yemen is unfortunately declining. As of 2023, the per-person consumption stands at 78 kWh, a significant decrease from the peak of 290 kWh per person recorded in 2013. Specifically, low-carbon electricity generation per person was recorded at 13 kWh, nearly maintaining the slight previous high in 2019. This stationary trend in low-carbon generation is disappointing, especially when looking at the dire need for clean energy growth to combat climate change and improve energy security. The drops over the last decade indicate a concerning regression in electricity access and efficiency, underlining the urgency for intervention and investment to reverse the decline and promote growth, especially in clean energy technologies.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation in Yemen, the expansion of solar energy stands out as a promising avenue given its current presence and high potential for growth. Learning from successful regions such as China, which produces substantial electricity from both wind (1,130 TWh) and solar (1,170 TWh), Yemen can explore scaling up solar installations. Furthermore, the integration of nuclear energy, resembling initiatives seen in countries like France producing 373 TWh, and the United States at 784 TWh, could significantly strengthen Yemen’s clean energy portfolio. By focusing on substantial investments in solar and potentially nuclear infrastructure, Yemen can increase its clean electricity capacity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thus addressing both environmental concerns and energy accessibility.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Yemen through solar energy has shown minimal development over the years. Between 2008 and 2014, no significant increases occurred in solar electricity generation. A slight advance occurred in 2015 with an introduction of 0.1 TWh, followed by a larger, albeit singular, increase of 0.3 TWh in 2018. Unfortunately, this progress stagnated in subsequent years with no additional gains up to 2023. This stagnation signifies a missed opportunity to leverage Yemen's abundant sunlight, and urges meaningful investment and policy reform to unleash the potential of solar energy as part of a broader clean energy mix including nuclear, to achieve sustainable and reliable electricity for all.
