Electricity in Barbados in 2023
In 2023, Barbados heavily relies on fossil energy for its electricity consumption, with more than 90% of its electricity generated from fossil fuels. Solar energy, representing the low-carbon category, contributes just over 8% to the electricity mix, while gas constitutes close to 3%. The contrast between the fossil and low-carbon resources is stark, highlighting the significant dependency on fossil fuels which are harmful in terms of climate change and air pollution, and pointing to a substantial opportunity for growth in clean energy sources to build a more sustainable future.
Is Electricity Growing in Barbados?
When examining the growth of electricity consumption in Barbados, there is a noted decline from previous years. In 2023, the electricity consumption reached 3897 kWh per person, a decrease of 184 kWh per person compared to the peak in 2012. This represents a concerning downturn which might impede economic growth and development. However, on a positive note, the consumption of low-carbon electricity has increased, with the latest data showing 319 kWh per person. This marks a commendable rise of 35 kWh per person from the 2021 record. The increase in low-carbon electricity points towards a growing commitment to cleaner sources despite the overall decline in total consumption.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Barbados can draw lessons from regions successfully harnessing solar, nuclear, and wind energy. With solar resources similar to those in Cyprus and California, Barbados could look to increase its solar capacity, given these regions generate over 20% of their electricity from solar. Implementing nuclear energy, modeled after countries like France, where it constitutes around 69% of the electricity mix, could also be a promising strategy. These countries have proven that a combination of nuclear and solar has enormous potential to substantially reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet growing demands sustainably.
History
Historically, the trajectory of low-carbon electricity in Barbados has seen limited changes in solar energy generation. Since 2014, solar electricity production has remained stagnant with no notable increases each year. This stagnation suggests missed opportunities for advancing clean energy generation that could have been fortified over the past decade. A transformative shift in policy and infrastructure investment towards harnessing solar and nuclear energy is critical to reversing this stagnation and driving growth in Barbados' low-carbon electricity output.