Electricity Consumption in Tunisia Heavily Impacted by Widespread Use of Air Conditioners
Tunisia's Electricity Consumption Affected by Mass Adoption of Air Conditioners
According to Abdelkader Bekkouche, Director of Energy Efficiency in the Building Sector at the National Agency for Energy Management (ANME), approximately 2.7 million air conditioning units are currently in use in Tunisia, with over 50% of households equipped with these devices. This widespread adoption of air conditioning units is putting significant pressure on the national electricity grid, particularly during periods of high heat, such as summer.
The Impact of Air Conditioners on Electricity Consumption
Bekkouche revealed that air conditioners in the residential sector alone account for nearly 50% of the peak summer electricity consumption, which reached 4.8 gigawatts in July 2024. The simultaneous use of air conditioners during hot summer days is causing significant strain on the national electricity system.
National Energy Strategy and Efforts to Reduce Energy Consumption
In light of this challenge, Bekkouche emphasized the importance of the national energy strategy, which aims to reduce carbon intensity by 45% by 2030 and increase the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix to 35% by the same deadline. To achieve these goals, ANME has implemented several national energy efficiency programs, including:
- Replacing 4 million traditional light bulbs with LED bulbs
- The "Ecological Mosques" program
- Projects to equip public buildings with solar systems and modernize their electrical and air conditioning equipment to reduce energy consumption and costs.
Event Context
The information was shared during a roundtable discussion titled "What Strategic Vision and Innovations for a Sustainable Building of Tomorrow?" organized by the Tunis-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tunis. The event focused on the challenges of sustainable construction, energy efficiency, and innovation in the building sector.
