Electricity in Barbados in 2022

As of 2022, Barbados's electricity consumption is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with more than 90% of its electricity generated from these sources. Specifically, about 93% of the electricity comes from fossil energy, indicating a significant dependence on sources that contribute to climate change and air pollution. On the other hand, low-carbon, clean energy sources contribute roughly 7% of the island's electricity consumption. This clean energy share is entirely from solar power, showing that while there is some progress, the transition to low-carbon electricity generation is still in its nascent stages in Barbados.

Suggestions

Barbados can significantly increase its low-carbon electricity generation by looking at the successes of other countries, particularly those that have effectively harnessed nuclear and wind energy. Uruguay, for example, generates 35% of its electricity from wind power, showing that small countries can achieve substantial clean energy targets with the right investments in wind technology. Similarly, Denmark generates more than half of its electricity from wind, proving the feasibility of relying heavily on wind energy. Additionally, France and Slovakia demonstrate the potential of nuclear energy, generating 65% and 62% of their electricity from nuclear power, respectively. These examples show that a blend of nuclear and wind energy could substantially improve Barbados's green energy profile, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Barbados over recent years shows a stagnation, with no significant changes in solar electricity generation from 2014 to 2022. Each year from 2014 to 2022 saw no increase in solar electricity generation, indicating a decade of stagnant growth in the low-carbon energy sector. This lack of progress highlights a missed opportunity for the island to diversify its energy sources, particularly into solar power, which is abundant in the Caribbean. Moving forward, Barbados can leverage this history as a lesson to accelerate investments in low-carbon technologies, learning from the successful examples of other nations to foster a more sustainable and resilient energy system.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources