Tunisia's Renewable Energy Share Drops in 2025

According to a recent report by the Energy Research Unit, a research and consulting center based in Washington, Tunisia's share of renewable energy in its electricity mix has declined in 2025, standing at 4.03%, compared to approximately 4.4% in the previous year.

Decline in Solar Energy Share

The drop in renewable energy share can be attributed to a decrease in the solar energy share, which fell to 2.52% in 2025, down from 2.62% in 2024. The report highlights a downward trend for other renewable energy sources in the past year. The share of wind energy in the mix decreased to 1.5%, down from approximately 1.73% in the previous year. Meanwhile, hydroelectric energy's contribution to electricity production declined to 0.04% at the end of 2025, down from 0.05% a year earlier.

Installed Capacity Growth

Despite the decline in renewable energy share, Tunisia's installed capacity has grown significantly over the past decade, with a 2.5-fold increase. Solar energy remains the driving force behind this growth, with its installed capacity reaching 895 MW at the end of 2025. In contrast, the wind energy sector has stagnated, with its operational capacity remaining unchanged since 2018, at 245 MW.

Energy Deficit and Financial Pressure

Tunisia is facing a worsening energy deficit and a structural imbalance in its energy balance. According to official figures, the country's primary energy resources have plummeted from 8.3 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2010 to approximately 3.4 Mtoe in 2025. Meanwhile, energy consumption has remained high, reaching 9.7 Mtoe. This has resulted in an estimated energy deficit of around 6.3 Mtoe, representing nearly 65% of the country's needs.

The energy trade balance has also recorded a massive deficit of 11,023 million dinars in 2025, while energy subsidies have surged to over 7,000 million dinars, placing an increasingly heavy burden on the public finances.

Transition to Renewable Energy

In light of these challenges, the Tunisian government has ratified five concession agreements for photovoltaic power plants in various governorates, aiming to reduce the country's dependence on natural gas, which remains the primary source of electricity production. The government has also recognized the need to adopt a model based on renewable energy sources to address the energy deficit and alleviate the financial pressure.