In 2022, Aruba relied on fossil fuels for about 83% of its electricity consumption—more than four-fifths of the total. Low-carbon electricity supplied the remaining 17%, or roughly one-sixth. Wind provided 14% of electricity and solar another 3%, making wind the island’s leading clean electricity source. Expanding these low-carbon sources would help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and their contributions to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Aruba?

Aruba’s electricity consumption per person remained below its historical peak in 2022, rather than reaching new heights. Consumption was about 9,300 kWh per person, roughly 450 kWh, or 5%, below the 2007 record of about 9,700 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation was approximately 1,580 kWh per person, around 150 kWh, or 9%, below its 2015 peak. These comparisons do not establish the latest year-to-year trend, but they show disappointing progress relative to past records. Stronger growth in clean electricity would help meet future demand from electrification and AI.

Suggestions

Aruba can build on its established wind sector while accelerating solar development. Island regions offer useful examples: wind supplies about 35% of electricity in Ireland, while solar supplies about 23% in Cyprus and the US state of Hawaii. These examples suggest considerable room to expand beyond Aruba’s current wind and solar shares. Denmark, where wind provides 57% of electricity, offers further lessons in integrating substantial wind generation. Aruba should also consider nuclear electricity as part of its long-term clean electricity strategy, drawing on experience from regions such as France and the US state of South Carolina, where nuclear supplies about two-thirds and half of electricity, respectively. Together, expanded wind, solar and consideration of nuclear could support a larger, low-carbon electricity supply.

History

The supplied history shows one clear increase in Aruba’s low-carbon electricity generation: wind output rose by 0.1 TWh in 2010, equivalent to about 100 million kWh. The wind entry for 2009 and subsequent entries from 2011 through 2021 show no change at the reported precision. Solar likewise shows no recorded change in the entries covering 2014 through 2020. These zero entries describe annual changes, not an absence of generation, and may conceal smaller movements because of rounding. Nevertheless, the record indicates that the substantial wind expansion in 2010 was not followed by similarly large recorded gains—a reason to renew momentum in clean electricity development.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade