Saudi Electricity Demand Drops for the First Time on Record

Initiative Electricity Sector Transitions
Type Data Insight
Date 12 October 2020

Abstract

Since 1990, Saudi Arabia’s electricity consumption has risen rapidly and consistently, at an average rate of around 6% per year. This growth rate is considerably high when compared with the global average growth rate of 3% and 4.8% in developed countries. In 2012, Saudi Arabia established the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC) and Saudi Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP) to curb inefficient electricity consumption.

Authors

Salaheddine Soummane

Research Associate Salaheddine is a senior associate in the Utilities and Renewables program. His current work focuses on energy market restructuring, modeling,… Salaheddine is a senior associate in the Utilities and Renewables program. His current work focuses on energy market restructuring, modeling, and regulation. Before joining KAPSARC, Salaheddine worked as a research associate at the Centre for International Research on Environment and Development (CIRED), a National Centre for Scientific Research lab in Paris, as part of the integrated economy-energy modeling team. He also worked as an economist in the energy markets and environmental regulation unit of the utility group Électricité de France (Paris). Salaheddine holds a Ph.D. in economics from Paris-Saclay University (France). His doctoral dissertation assessed potential economic and energy transition pathways for Saudi Arabia. He also holds an M.Sc. in energy economics and law from the University of Montpellier (France), and an M.Sc. in finance from the Aix-Marseille School of Economics (France).

Expertise