What is Qatar's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?

Buildings

While Qatar’s overall energy consumption has risen significantly in the past two decades, the rise in energy consumption by residential and commercial buildings has been moderate. In 2018, the share of residential and commercial buildings in total final energy consumption in Qatar was 12%.1

Qatar's energy mix in the buildings sector

petajoule per year

Scaling

Qatar’s building sector is already nearly electrified, with electricity already accounting for 94% of energy demand in the sector. Under 1.5°C analysed pathways, electricity share is projected to increase to 99% by 2050 of the sector’s total final energy demand.

As a country located in dry tropical climate zone, space cooling accounts for a major share of electricity demand (60–80%) in buildings in Qatar.2 The potential increase in emissions will therefore come not only from electricity consumption but also an increase in HFCs from air-conditioning. A scientific study published in 2017 showed that implementing an optimal set of energy efficiency measures (including both building renovations and appliance retrofitting) in new and existing buildings in Qatar can save 60% in both annual energy consumption and electricity peak demand, and significantly reduce carbon emissions.3 This could be achieved through innovative financing mechanisms to incentivise improvements of building envelopes, and by strengthening building codes.

Qatar’s Second National Development Strategy (2018-2022) outlined that Qatar will issue a Green Building Code as part of its efforts to increase energy efficiency. To achieve this, Qatar aims to promote integrated water and electricity management in households through the so-called Tarsheed Program.4

Qatar's buildings sector direct CO₂ emissions (of energy demand)

MtCO₂/yr

Direct CO₂ emissions only are considered (see power sector for electricity related emissions, hydrogen and heat emissions are not considered here).

1.5°C compatible buildings sector benchmarks

Direct CO₂ emissions and shares of electricity, heat and hydrogen in the buildings final energy demand from illustrative 1.5°C pathways for Qatar

Indicator
2019
2030
2040
2050
Direct CO₂ emissions
MtCO₂/yr
0
0 to 1
0 to 0
0 to 0
Relative to reference year in %
0 to 0%
0 to 0%
0 to 0%
Indicator
2019
2030
2040
2050
Share of electricity
per cent
94
91 to 96
97 to 98
99 to 99
Share of heat
per cent
0
0 to 0
0 to 1
0 to 3
Share of hydrogen
per cent
0
0 to 0
0 to 0
0 to 1

All values are rounded. Only direct CO₂ emissions are considered (electricity, hydrogen and heat emissions are not considered here; see power sector for emissions from electricity generation). Year of full decarbonisation is based on carbon intenstiy threshold of 5gCO₂/MJ.

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