Tunisia accelerates renewable energy shift amid soaring electricity demand

Record summer temperatures above 40°C have driven a sharp rise in electricity use across Tunisia, prompting targeted load‑shedding to keep the grid stable. The state electricity company STEG faces unprecedented pressure as demand peaks at 4.8 GW.

President Kaïs Saïed has made energy transition a priority, speeding up solar and wind projects, improving regulations and incentives to reduce reliance on imported fuels and build a more resilient power system.

A 2024 study by the national energy agency ANME and STEG found that household air‑conditioners now account for 18 % of residential electricity use, becoming the second‑largest consumer after refrigerators, which hold about 36 %. The country has added nearly one million AC units in five years, reaching roughly 2.7 million units, and these appliances contribute about half of the summer peak load.