In Jordan, electricity generation heavily relies on fossil fuels, accounting for approximately three-quarters of the total electricity produced in 2022. The major source within this category is gas, contributing to nearly three-fourths of the total fossil-based power. Despite the dominance of fossil fuel energy, Jordan is making strides in embracing low-carbon energy sources. These clean energy sources, comprising wind and solar power, together form almost a quarter of the total electricity generation. Solar energy plays a significant role among low-carbon sources, contributing about 15% of the total electricity, while wind energy accounts for nearly 8%. This shift towards low-carbon options indicates a positive trajectory in Jordan's energy landscape as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and move towards cleaner alternatives.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Jordan?
The state of electricity consumption in Jordan highlights both achievements and challenges. In 2022, the total electricity consumption per person decreased to approximately 2011 kWh, which is a noticeable reduction from its peak of around 2276 kWh per person in 2012. This decline suggests that overall electricity consumption has shrunk over the past decade. Conversely, low-carbon electricity generation has shown progress, with the latest figures at 464 kWh per person, surpassing the previous record of 444 kWh per person in 2021. This growth reflects Jordan's efforts to enhance its clean energy capability, but the decline in total electricity consumption may hinder the nation’s potential to meet the greater demands of future electrification.
Suggestions
To further enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Jordan could focus on expanding its solar energy capacity, given its promising performance. Drawing inspiration from successful regions, Jordan could look towards states like Nevada, which generates about a third of its electricity from solar energy. Similarly, leveraging wind energy potential could take cues from countries like Denmark and small US states such as Iowa, where wind power contributes significantly to their electricity mix. Furthermore, exploring the potential of nuclear energy could be another avenue, inspired by countries like France, where nuclear power forms a substantial part of the clean energy picture. By adopting best practices from these regions, Jordan can reduce its carbon footprint and secure its energy future.
History
Historically, the journey of low-carbon electricity in Jordan has seen gradual growth. Beginning with negligible changes in hydroelectric power in the 1990s and 2000s, the momentum for wind and solar energy began to pick up in the mid-2010s. In 2015, wind energy contributed slightly, which was followed by noticeable increases in both solar and wind by 2016 through 2018. The early 2020s saw continued growth in these areas, with solar energy notably expanding more than a TWh in additional generation in 2021. While the progress in the recent data indicated a slowdown with smaller increases in 2022, these developments mark Jordan’s ongoing commitment to increasing its low-carbon electricity footprint.
