Electricity in Palestinian Territories in 2022
In the Palestinian Territories, electricity consumption heavily relies on net imports, which constitute more than 85% of the total consumption. Fossil fuels contribute to almost 9% of the electricity, indicating a dependency on environmentally damaging sources. Low-carbon electricity generation, primarily from solar power, accounts for a modest 4.4% of the total electricity produced within the region. Given these figures, it is evident that the Palestinian Territories have yet to make significant strides in generating clean, low-carbon energy, and the reliance on net imports persists, presenting a clear area for potential improvement.
Is Electricity Growing in Palestinian Territories?
The recent data shows a slight decrease in total electricity consumption in the Palestinian Territories, with 2022 seeing a consumption of 1455 kWh per person, which is just 9 kWh lower than the 2021 figure. This stagnation is a concern, especially in a time where ensuring energy security through sustainable means is crucial. On a more positive note, low-carbon electricity generation has seen a substantial increase, rising by 22 kWh per person from 2021 to 2022. This growth in solar electricity is encouraging, reflecting a positive trend towards cleaner energy, although it remains a small part of the overall energy mix.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation in the Palestinian Territories, the region could benefit from looking at successful strategies used elsewhere. For example, Lebanon has achieved significant growth in solar energy, now comprising 31% of its electricity. Greece also stands out, with solar energy making up 26% of its electricity generation. Learning from these countries, the Palestinian Territories should focus on major solar projects and potentially explore nuclear energy as done by countries like Slovakia and France, where nuclear energy composes more than half of their electricity generation. By investing in solar and potentially nuclear infrastructure, the region could drastically increase its low-carbon electricity production, reduce reliance on imports, and support climate goals.
History
Examining the history of low-carbon electricity generation in the Palestinian Territories, solar power has started to make headway only recently. From 2015 through 2018, the region saw no recorded increase in solar electricity. However, starting in 2019, incremental growth began, with slight increases noted in 2019, 2020, and 2022. While this represents valuable progress, much of the last decade missed opportunities for substantial clean energy development. As the region moves forward, it must leverage this momentum to ensure a more consistent and expansive growth trajectory in solar electricity, building towards a sustainable and self-sufficient energy future.