Eritrea energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in Eritrea reached 450 GWh in 2024. The supply is almost entirely oil, which accounted for 88.9% of generation; solar power made up most of the remainder (11.1%).
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 0.4 | 88.9% | −11.1 |
| Solar | 0.05 | 11.1% | +11.1 |
| Total | 0.45 | 100% |
Eritrea: electricity in context
Electricity generation in Eritrea reached 450 GWh in 2024. That is similar to Belize. The supply is almost entirely oil, which accounted for 88.9% of generation; solar power made up most of the remainder (11.1%).
11.1% of the country’s power came from renewable sources. This puts it 23 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for Africa (24.7%). Generating one kWh emits about 578 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). The grid is more carbon-intensive than the world average.
Since 2014, oil has added the most generation in absolute terms (+130 GWh), yet its share of the mix fell by 11.1 percentage points because other sources grew even faster. Measured by share of the mix, solar power gained most, up 11.1 percentage points. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 11.1 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 180 GWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 667 to 578 g/kWh, a 13% cut.
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Eritrea in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 11.1% of electricity (solar 11.1%, wind 0%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2017.
Eritrea generates 127 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 3% of the global average. Eritrea does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Eritrea against the world and Africa averages.
Power plants in Eritrea
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 2 utility-scale plants in Eritrea with a combined capacity of 0.1 GW. Oil plants account for the largest slice (100% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Massawa (100 MW, Oil). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massawa | Oil | 100 | — | — |
| 2 | Beleza | Oil | 33 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 2 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Eritrea
8 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 23 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 42 MW under construction or planned.
How does Eritrea compare?
Eritrea next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eritrea | 11.1% | 11.1% | 88.9% | 578 | 127 | 0.5 | — | |
| Ethiopia | 100% | 100% | 0% | 23 | 246 | 33.4 | Compare | |
| Sudan | 79.7% | 79.7% | 20.3% | 154 | 293 | 14.8 | Compare | |
| Yemen | 11.2% | 11.2% | 88.8% | 592 | 129 | 5.3 | Compare | |
| Somalia | 20.9% | 20.9% | 79.1% | 512 | 23 | 0.4 | Compare | |
| Saudi Arabia | 2.2% | 2.2% | 97.8% | 692 | 13,386 | 455 | Compare | |
| South Sudan | 1.8% | 1.8% | 98.2% | 643 | 47 | 0.6 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Eritrea
Eritrea energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Eritrea is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Eritrea?
How clean is the electricity in Eritrea?
How much electricity does Eritrea use per person?
How much solar power does Eritrea produce?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.