Electricity in Aruba in 2022

Aruba's electricity in 2022 was heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with about 85% of its electricity coming from these sources. Only around 15% of Aruba's electricity was generated from low-carbon sources. Wind power contributed a significant portion to this clean energy mix, making up approximately 14%, while solar power accounted for just over 1%. This means that while there is some adoption of cleaner technologies, the vast majority of Aruba's electricity generation still produces considerable greenhouse gases and air pollution.

Suggestions

To increase the share of low-carbon electricity, Aruba could strategically expand its existing wind power infrastructure. Given the island's favorable wind conditions and the fact that wind power already contributes significantly to its clean energy, scaling up wind farms could be both effective and economically viable. Additionally, Aruba could also look to examples from other countries to diversify its clean energy portfolio. For instance, Uruguay generates about 36% of its electricity from wind, showcasing how a smaller country has successfully leveraged this technology. Similarly, Denmark, with 61% wind power, demonstrates the potential for significant contributions from wind energy.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Aruba shows a gradual but noteworthy upward trend in wind power generation. Wind energy first emerged in 2010 with a modest increase of 0.1 TWh. After this initial growth, wind and solar electricity saw no substantial changes from 2011 onwards until 2021. The notable consistency in wind energy generation suggests that while there has been stable investment, there has not been aggressive expansion. Solar energy started to make its appearance in 2014 but similarly saw no significant increases through 2021. This steady, albeit slow, incorporation of low-carbon sources indicates a foundation that could be built upon for a greener electricity grid in the future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources