In 2023, all electricity consumed in the British Virgin Islands came from fossil fuels, with no low-carbon electricity recorded. This complete dependence on fossil electricity leaves substantial scope to introduce clean generation, particularly solar, while reducing the climate-changing emissions and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in British Virgin Islands?

Electricity consumption per person was well below its historical peak in 2023, rather than reaching a new record. It stood at about 4,400 kWh per person, compared with roughly 7,200 kWh in 2010—a decrease of about 2,900 kWh, or 40%. These figures do not establish whether consumption increased or decreased in the latest year, but the gap from the peak warrants attention as electrification creates future demand. Low-carbon generation remained at zero kWh per person, unchanged from the recorded benchmark in 2000, showing no progress on that measure.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, the British Virgin Islands could prioritize rooftop solar and larger solar installations, supported by storage and grid improvements. Relevant island examples include the US state of Hawaii and Cyprus, where solar supplies about 23% of electricity, and Samoa, where it supplies 13%. Cape Verde offers another island example, generating about 14% of its electricity from solar and another 14% from wind; the British Virgin Islands could assess suitable wind sites alongside solar development. Nuclear should also be considered within long-term clean-electricity planning, including assessment of appropriately scaled technologies and regional cooperation. France, where nuclear generates roughly two-thirds of electricity, demonstrates its contribution to a substantial low-carbon supply, although its electricity system is very different in scale.

History

No year-by-year historical changes in low-carbon electricity generation were supplied, so a detailed account by decade cannot be established. The available benchmarks show zero low-carbon generation per person in both 2000 and 2023, with the stated historical record also at zero. These figures indicate a lack of recorded progress toward clean electricity and underline the opportunity to begin building a meaningful low-carbon supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade