Saudi Arabia's electricity consumption in 2023 is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with an overwhelming 98% of electricity being generated from such sources. Natural gas alone constitutes almost two-thirds of this figure. In stark contrast, low-carbon or clean electricity sources currently make up just over 1% of total electricity generation. Within this small fraction, solar energy is the primary contributor, accounting for approximately 1% of the overall electricity profile. The minimal contribution of low-carbon energy sources highlights a significant opportunity for Saudi Arabia to transform its energy landscape towards more sustainable avenues.

Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Saudi Arabia?

The electricity consumption per person in Saudi Arabia has seen a slight increase in 2023, reaching 12,712 kWh/person, a modest rise from the previous record in 2021 by 170 kWh. This growth, though minor, indicates that electricity consumption is on an upward trajectory. A more significant boost is evident in the low-carbon sector, where per capita generation has increased substantially by 103 kWh compared to its historic record in 2022. This trend suggests a promising shift towards greener energy, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable electricity generation system.

Suggestions

To further enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Saudi Arabia can look towards regions with successful implementations of solar and nuclear energy. For instance, similar to Nevada, leveraging the kingdom's abundant sunlight can significantly boost solar power generation. Simultaneously, adopting nuclear energy, as exemplified by countries like France, where nuclear accounts for 70% of electricity, can provide a steady and reliable base-load energy supply. By integrating these strategies, Saudi Arabia has the potential to diversify its energy matrix and significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, paving the way for a sustainable energy future.

History

Historically, Saudi Arabia has made a gradual yet notable shift towards low-carbon electricity sources only in the past few years. Throughout the early 2010s, solar energy saw negligible changes, remaining close to none until a slight increase occurred in 2015. This stagnation continued until 2019, with another minor uptick. However, a more substantial leap took place in the recent years, with 2021 seeing a considerable addition of 0.6 TWh from solar sources. The momentum continued in 2022 with wind energy contributing a significant increase of 1.4 TWh. The year 2023 marked a breakthrough with solar energy surging by 3.5 TWh. This recent uptick in clean energy generation is a positive indication of Saudi Arabia's growing commitment to diversifying its electricity sources towards more sustainable options.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade