In 2023, Yemen's electricity consumption remains critically low, with total electricity generation amounting to about 2.55 TWh from fossil fuels and a small fraction, estimated at 13 kWh/person, from low-carbon sources like solar. This puts the country's per capita electricity use at merely 78 kWh, which is just a tiny fraction of the global average of 3781 kWh/person. This stark disparity highlights the severe constraints on Yemen's development prospects and quality of life, as electricity is fundamental to economic growth, health care, and education. Reliance on fossil fuels also comes with detrimental effects such as air pollution and climate change, underscoring the urgent need to boost clean energy production.
Is Electricity Growing in Yemen?
The historical trends indicate a worrying decline in electricity availability in Yemen. At its peak in 2013, the consumption per person was recorded at 290 kWh, but by 2023, this had plummeted by over 200 kWh/person. The generation of low-carbon electricity has also seen a minor decrease from the historic peak of 14 kWh/person in 2018 to 13 kWh/person in 2023. Such declines are alarming and suggest that Yemen is moving further away from meeting its electricity needs, impacting its ability to push towards sustainable development and modernization.
Suggestions
To tackle these challenges, Yemen can look towards expanding its solar infrastructure, as solar energy is already making a small yet positive impact. Learning from other regions where there is significant low-carbon electricity support, like China, which generates substantial amounts from both wind and solar, could be advantageous. Countries like India and states like California demonstrate the feasibility and success of scaling solar electricity substantially. Furthermore, the expansion of nuclear energy as observed in France and the United States illustrates a viable path for stable and clean electricity generation. Yemen should harness these insights and invest in building infrastructure that capitalizes on its solar potential and explores future possibilities for nuclear energy to ensure a sustainable energy future.
History
Looking at the history of low-carbon energy use in Yemen, solar electricity generation began to make small strides starting in 2015 with a minor increase of 0.1 TWh. The most significant progress occurred in 2018 with a 0.3 TWh growth. However, from 2019 onwards, solar generation stagnated with no increase, reflecting underutilized potential. This period of no growth in solar capacity is concerning, given the pressing need for diversification of energy sources and the global push towards cleaner energies. Yemen must actively pursue policies that stimulate the expansion of clean electricity to avoid being left behind in the global energy transition.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.