According to the Energy Research Unit, based in Washington, electricity production from renewable energy has accelerated significantly in ten Arab countries.
This mainly concerns Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Qatar, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
Together, they reached an installed capacity of 33.76 gigawatts in 2024, a record level reflecting a gradual shift in their energy mixes.
The same source notes that this increase coincides with a relative decline in fossil fuel sources.
The share of gas and oil, long dominant in Arab electricity production, is gradually shrinking, following the same global trend.
In 2024, coal, gas, and oil are expected to represent 34.3%, 22%, and 2.77% of the global electricity mix, confirming a gradual decline. Meanwhile, wind power grows by 8.1% and solar by 6.9%.
The Energy Research Unit ranked the five countries in the region that relied most on renewable energy in 2024, including wind, solar, biomass, and hydro, for electricity production.
Tunisia ranks 5th in the region, with 3.98% of its electricity mix coming from renewables in 2024. Although still modest, this marks a slight increase from 3.95% in 2023.
Specifically, solar energy now accounts for 2.35% of the national electricity mix. In contrast, wind power declined to 1.58% due to slower investment in this sector. Hydroelectricity remains stable at around 1%.
At the top of the ranking, Morocco stands out with 26.5% of its electricity from renewables in 2024, making it the most advanced Arab country in this field.
Egypt ranks second with 11.2%, thanks to major solar projects such as the Benban solar park in Upper Egypt. The UAE comes next with 8.81%.
Oman ranks fourth with 4.2%. Less advanced than its Gulf neighbors, the country is developing pilot projects and leveraging its strong sunlight to catch up.
