Electricity in Benin in 2023
Benin's current state of electricity consumption in 2023 reveals a significant reliance on fossil energy, with low-carbon energy sources contributing only a minimal portion. The total electricity consumption in Benin stands at a modest 130 kWh per person, which is significantly lower than the global average of 3781 kWh per person. More than half of Benin's electricity comes from fossil sources, while low-carbon electricity generation accounts for close to none, with just 2 kWh per person coming from cleaner sources. This critical deficiency in electricity generation can have far-reaching effects on economic development, living standards, and environmental sustainability, highlighting the urgent need to ramp up clean electricity generation.
Is Electricity Growing in Benin?
Observing the trends in electricity consumption, it's clear that Benin's electricity consumption has experienced a slight decline. The most recent data from 2023 indicate a total electricity consumption of 130 kWh per person, which sees a decrease of 5 kWh from a previous record of 136 kWh per person set in 2021. However, there is a glimmer of progress in low-carbon generation, which increased by 1 kWh per person compared to the 2021 record. While this uptick in low-carbon electricity is a positive sign, it remains crucial for Benin to accelerate growth in clean energy to ensure sustainable development and secure an abundant energy future.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Benin can draw valuable lessons from regions that have successfully harnessed solar, wind, and nuclear energy. For instance, China's impressive solar and wind generation capacities—834 TWh for solar and 992 TWh for wind—demonstrate the potential of scaling up these technologies. Moreover, looking at nuclear power, countries like France, with its robust nuclear output of 379 TWh, and the United States, generating 782 TWh from nuclear sources, exemplify the benefits of investing in nuclear facilities. By integrating solar and nuclear strategies from these regions, Benin can richly diversify its energy portfolio, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting environmental sustainability.
History
Historically, Benin's low-carbon electricity generation has shown little to no growth, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s when hydroelectric generation remained stagnant. Biofuels also experienced no growth throughout its recorded history. It wasn't until more recent years that solar power appeared in records, yet with no change in output. The data from the past decades highlight a lack of dynamism in the sector, with no significant leaps in clean electricity generation until present times. This stagnation in what should be a foundational element of sustainable development underlines an urgent call for a more aggressive pursuit of low-carbon electricity sources to meet emerging energy demands and mitigate the harmful impacts of fossil fuel emissions.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.