Electricity in Belize in 2023
In 2023, Belize's electricity consumption is predominantly driven by low-carbon sources. More than half of the total electricity, around 55%, comes from clean energy, which includes hydropower, biofuels, and solar. Hydropower leads the way, accounting for almost a third of the electricity supply, while biofuels make up a bit over a fifth. Solar energy contributes a small portion, around 1%. Belize also relies significantly on net imports, which constitute about 38% of its electricity consumption. In contrast, the contribution from fossil fuels is minimal, providing just under 7% of the electricity. This distribution shows that Belize is already making significant strides towards a more sustainable electricity grid, with low-carbon sources forming the backbone of its energy supply.
Suggestions
To further enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Belize can look towards countries that have successfully integrated higher percentages of clean energy into their grids. For instance, Denmark generates over half of its electricity from wind power, despite having a relatively modest geographical area, demonstrating that wind energy can be a viable option even for smaller countries. Similarly, Ireland utilizes wind to produce nearly a third of its electricity. Although nuclear energy is not currently utilized in Belize, countries like France and Slovakia have demonstrated the potential of nuclear energy to significantly contribute to low-carbon electricity generation. Such examples suggest that diversifying into wind and possibly exploring nuclear options, where feasible, could further reduce fossil fuel dependency in Belize and enhance its sustainability.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Belize reveals a steady journey toward clean energy dependence over the past decades. From the early 2000s, there has been incremental growth in hydropower, with notable increases in 2000 and 2006, each adding 0.1 TWh to the grid. Biofuels began contributing in 2010 with an initial increase of 0.1 TWh, marking the start of its presence in Belize's energy mix. Although there was a slight decline in biofuels production in 2013, the overall contribution from clean energy sources has remained stable. Recent years have largely been characterized by fluctuations in hydropower output, with only a slight increase in 2022. This historical data underscores Belize's ongoing commitment to low-carbon electricity, albeit with room for expansion, especially in modern technologies like wind and solar that are showing promising results globally.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.