Electricity in Oman in 2024
In 2024, the electricity consumption in Oman is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with a substantial 95.8% coming from fossil sources, predominantly gas at 93.05%. Low-carbon or clean energy sources, on the other hand, account for a modest 4.2% of the total electricity consumption, with solar energy representing the lion's share of this category at 3.92%. This indicates that while there is some uptake of sustainable energy solutions, they remain a very small part of the overall electricity mix. Reliance on fossil fuels is concerning given their negative environmental impacts, such as contributing to climate change and air pollution.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Oman?
Examining whether electricity consumption overall is growing in Oman, we see a slight decline in total consumption from 2022 to 2024. The latest per capita consumption is 8637 kWh, down from the peak of 9327 kWh, indicating a decrease of 691 kWh per person. In terms of low-carbon electricity, there has been a positive, though small, increase with per capita consumption rising from 360 kWh in 2023 to 363 kWh in 2024, marking a marginal but hopeful upward trend. While this slight gain in clean energy is promising, the overall decline in electricity consumption signals a need for renewed focus on energy growth, particularly in cleaner sources to sustain the future demand made even more pressing by digitalization and technological advancement.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Oman can draw lessons from regions that excel in either solar or nuclear energy, both of which hold significant potential for the country. For solar energy, Lebanon and Nevada are notable examples with solar contributing 31% and 33% of their electricity respectively, highlighting the viability of solar power in regions with similar sun exposure. Regarding nuclear energy, countries like France and Slovakia lead with nuclear accounting for 70% and 66% of their electricity generation. Although Oman does not currently utilize nuclear energy, it is a reliable and substantial option for expanding its clean energy portfolio. By investing in solar and exploring possibilities for nuclear energy development, Oman can substantially increase its low-carbon power supply.
History
Looking at the history of low-carbon electricity in Oman, the past decade has seen the slow but emerging growth of solar and wind energy. Stagnation dominated the early 2010s, with no noticeable changes in solar power until 2020, when a small increase of 0.2 TWh marked the beginning of growth in clean energy sources. This was followed by continued expansion in 2021 and 2022, with solar energy increasing by 0.5 and 0.9 TWh, respectively. Wind energy marked a smaller increase of 0.1 TWh in 2020 but demonstrated no growth in subsequent years. In 2024, both solar and wind power generation registered no changes, highlighting the recent stagnation of low-carbon progress. Continued dedication to these technologies will be necessary to drive sustained growth in the sector.
