Aruba is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for its electricity consumption, with fossil energy sources accounting for 83% of its electricity generation in 2022. Low-carbon, or clean energy, contributes to a smaller portion, 17% of the total, with wind energy providing a significant 14% and solar contributing a modest 3%. The island's commitment to green energy remains relatively limited, partially due to its heavy dependence on traditional fossil fuels. However, the presence of wind and solar energy suggests a foothold in the clean energy sector, hinting at the potential for growth in sustainable energy contributions to power the island.
Data sources used on this page include Ember. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Aruba?
The trend of electricity consumption in Aruba shows a slight decline over the years. The per capita electricity consumption in 2022 was 9,281 kWh, marking a reduction of 454 kWh from the peak recorded in 2007. Low-carbon electricity generation has similarly trended downwards, with 1,578 kWh per person in 2022, a decrease of 150 kWh compared to the 2015 peak. These numbers highlight a concern as both total and clean electricity consumption have not seen significant growth. Increases in electricity, particularly from low-carbon sources, are vital to meet future demands and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Aruba could expand its existing wind capabilities, given the island's experience with this technology. Looking at successful regions, countries like Denmark have achieved significant portions of their electricity from wind, with around 60% wind energy generation. Moreover, emulating Nevada's solar energy usage of 34% or California's 31% could be beneficial, given Aruba's sunny climate. Although currently unused, nuclear energy offers a reliable low-carbon option, as seen in France, where nuclear accounts for 67% of electricity generation. Aruba has the opportunity to learn from these successful models and scale up its clean energy portfolio to ensure a sustainable energy future.
History
Historically, Aruba's entry into low-carbon electricity began in the late 2000s with wind energy showing the first signs of growth in 2010 with an increase of 0.1 TWh. However, since then, the growth trajectory has seen little change for wind energy, and solar had no growth at all until the introduction of solar in 2014. Between 2014 and 2021, neither energy type has recorded any significant increments. This stagnant progress in low-carbon electricity growth is concerning, as it limits the island's potential to significantly lower its fossil fuel dependency. To prevent further stagnation, there needs to be a focused and strategic expansion of low-carbon technologies, drawing from global best practices, to reignite Aruba's clean energy progress.
