MENA Region Shifts Focus to Sustainability and Renewables in Energy Policies

Strategic Insights -

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has emerged as a significant contributor to global electricity demand growth, with demand tripling from 2000 to 2024 due to population, income, urbanization, and industrialization growth. As a result, the region is experiencing a surge in sustainability initiatives, with a focus on desalination and cooling efforts to address its climate. The International Energy Agency (IEA) report highlights the region's increasing shift towards renewable energy sources, with oil-fueled energy expected to decrease and the share of renewables in electricity generation predicted to increase tenfold by 2035.

Key Takeaways:

  • MENA has become one of the top contributors to global electricity demand growth since 2000, with demand tripling by 2024.
  • The region's energy consumption is expected to rise by another 50% by 2035, with oil waning as a primary energy source.
  • Desalination capacity is increasing across the region, with many countries setting ambitious national goals to expand their desalination capacity.
  • Morocco aims to increase desalination output by 1.7 billion cubic meters per year by 2030 and increase its renewable energy share to 52% by 2030.
  • Nuclear power capacity is expected to triple by 2035, and the share of renewables in the region's electricity generation is predicted to increase tenfold by 2035.
  • The region's policy momentum is shifting towards diversifying the electricity mix through renewable and low-emissions sources.
  • The IEA report commends many countries' renewable and sustainability policy efforts in the region, including Morocco's sustainability initiatives.

Statistics:

  • MENA's electricity demand growth has tripled from 2000 to 2024.
  • The region's energy consumption is expected to rise by another 50% by 2035.
  • Desalination capacity in the region is increasing, with many countries setting ambitious national goals to expand their desalination capacity.
  • Morocco aims to increase desalination output by 1.7 billion cubic meters per year by 2030.
  • Nuclear power capacity in the region is expected to triple by 2035.
  • The share of renewables in the region's electricity generation is predicted to increase tenfold by 2035.

Sources:

  • International Energy Agency (IEA).