In 2020, Bermuda's electricity consumption was completely reliant on fossil fuels, with 100% of its electricity being generated from fossil energy sources. This heavy dependency highlights a critical issue, as burning fossil fuels is a significant contributor to climate change and can lead to air pollution and other environmental concerns. Currently, there are no contributions from low-carbon energy sources like nuclear, wind, or solar. This presents a clear opportunity for Bermuda to transition towards cleaner, more sustainable electricity generation methods.
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Bermuda can learn from the successful strategies of several countries. For instance, Denmark generates more than half of its electricity from wind, demonstrating the viability of wind energy, especially in coastal and windy areas that might resemble Bermuda’s conditions. Additionally, countries like Greece and Chile use significant amounts of solar energy, which could be particularly relevant for Bermuda given its sunny climate. Many countries, such as France and Slovakia, have also adopted nuclear power as a primary source of clean energy. By considering a mix of these approaches—leveraging its geographical location for solar and wind power while exploring the development of nuclear energy—Bermuda can gradually decrease its reliance on fossil fuels.
Looking at the historical data on low-carbon electricity generation in Bermuda, there is no recorded use or significant change in electricity generation from low-carbon sources over the past decades. This lack of development in clean energy contrasts sharply with global trends where many countries have consistently increased their capacity for low-carbon electricity. Bermuda has yet to embark on a journey towards cleaner and more sustainable electricity, denoting substantial room for improvement and potential in the energy transition landscape. With necessary policy support and investment in infrastructure, Bermuda can follow the examples of other countries to introduce and expand low-carbon electricity generation successfully.