What is Saudi Arabia's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?
Buildings
Energy consumption in residential and commercial buildings increased fivefold in Saudi Arabia between 1990 and 2019.1 The share of electricity in the buildings sector has been growing, and accounted for nearly 92% of total energy demand in 2019. The rest of the energy demand was met by oil with negligible contribution from biomass.2 In 2017, the buildings sector accounted for only 1% of total emissions in Saudi Arabia. Energy-related carbon emissions from the buildings sector have grown steadily in the past three decades while the emissions intensity has declined more sharply.
Saudi Arabia's energy mix in the buildings sector
petajoule per year
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Graph description
Energy mix composition in the buildings sector in consumption (EJ) and shares (%) for the years 2030, 2040 and 2050 based on selected IPCC SR1.5 global least costs pathways.
Methodology
Data References
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1.5°C compatible pathways show the buildings sector decarbonising between 2020 and 2034. Analysed pathways show the share of electricity in the sector increasing from 92% in 2019 to 98–99% in 2050.
In its 2021 NDC submission, Saudi Arabia states its ambition to incentivise energy efficiency projects in government buildings, and private sector investment in energy efficiency services via the National Energy Services Company (Tarshid). The plan will also include initiatives to improve energy efficiency in domestic buildings for appliances and air-conditioning units. The government plans to retrofit the entire pool of public and government assets and facilities including 2 million street lights, 110,000 government buildings, 35,000 public schools, 100,000 mosques, and 2500 hospitals and clinics.3
Saudi Arabia'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).
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Graph description
Direct CO₂ emissions of the buildings sector in selected 1.5°C compatible pathways.
Methodology
Data References
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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 Saudi Arabia
| Indicator |
2019
|
2030
|
2040
|
2050
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Direct CO₂ emissions
MtCO₂/yr
|
5
|
2 to
5
|
0 to
2
|
0 to
1
|
|
Relative to reference year in %
|
-49 to
-2%
|
-100 to
-52%
|
-100 to
-84%
|
| Indicator |
2019
|
2030
|
2040
|
2050
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Share of electricity
per cent
|
92
|
90 to
96
|
97 to
98
|
98 to
99
|
|
Share of heat
per cent
|
0
|
0 to
0
|
0 to
1
|
0 to
1
|
|
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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Methodology
Data References
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