In 2022, the electricity consumption landscape in Jordan primarily relied on fossil fuels, with fossil energy making up more than three-quarters of the total electricity supply, and a dominant share coming from natural gas, which accounted for nearly three-quarters. In contrast, clean energy contributed to about a quarter of the electricity generation. Among the low-carbon sources, solar energy led the way, providing a little over 15% of electricity, while wind energy accounted for nearly 8%. It is crucial to continue to push the energy transition forward, as clean energy presents a vital pathway to combat climate change and reduce harmful emissions associated with fossil fuel use.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Jordan?
Despite these challenges, the trend in electricity use per capita in Jordan shows room for growth, although it has experienced a decline. In 2022, each person consumed approximately 2,011 kWh of electricity, which is notably lower by 265 kWh than the peak of 2,276 kWh per person back in 2012. On a brighter note, clean electricity saw a commendable improvement with 20 kWh more generated per person compared to 2021, reaching 464 kWh per person. This signals hope and emphasizes the importance of sustaining efforts to increase low-carbon electricity to reverse the downward trend in overall electricity consumption.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Jordan could significantly enhance its existing and already productive solar infrastructure. By looking towards successful regions, the country could adopt lessons from nations proficient in low-carbon energy, including those like Lebanon and California, which have shown remarkable achievements in solar power generation at over 30%. Additionally, expanding into nuclear energy—a proven backbone of low-carbon power in countries like France and Slovakia where it constitutes over two-thirds of electricity—is another strategic avenue. To complement this, Jordan could also explore boosting wind power generation, drawing insights from countries like Denmark where wind contributes 60% of electricity, thus diversifying its clean energy mix.
History
Jordan's journey in low-carbon electricity generation began in earnest during the mid-2010s. For several decades, from the 1990s through the early 2000s, hydroelectric generation saw no notable change, contributing close to none to the country's electricity shift. However, a pivotal change occurred around 2015 with the introduction of wind energy, followed by solar, which grew rapidly. Between 2016 and 2021, solar and wind energy both consistently expanded, each adding significantly to the country's clean electricity generation. Solar energy most notably saw substantial increases in each consecutive year, reflecting a strategic shift towards sunlight-driven power that aligns with Jordan's resource potential. 2022 showed continued, albeit smaller, increases in solar and wind, underscoring the potential for further green advances in the energy sector.
