In 2021, the electricity consumption in Brunei was fully powered by fossil fuels, with roughly half of the generation at 49% hailing from coal and a near equal proportion at 48% from gas. There were no other types of energy sources factored in, meaning that the country relied fully on these high carbon emitting sources for its electricity needs. Such a situation indicates an urgent need for Brunei to shift towards cleaner and more sustainable low-carbon energy sources to reduce its carbon footprint.
Looking at the success of other countries, Brunei could look into harnessing the potential of nuclear energy; France and Slovakia generate a significant portion, 66% and 61% respectively, of their electricity from nuclear energy. Wind energy could be another viable option considering how it powers 59% of Denmark's and 40% of Uruguay's electricity needs. While the geographical and socio-political context of Brunei differs, these countries nonetheless demonstrate that a commitment to low-carbon energy generation is not only possible, but successful. This could involve policy incentives towards low-carbon energy investments, fostering research and development in these technologies, and building the necessary infrastructure for such a transition.
However, looking at Brunei's history in electricity generation, it is clear that the country has yet to start exploring low-carbon energy options. The data from 2011 to 2018 reveals zero electricity being generated from solar, one of the most accessible form of low-carbon energy. With no evidence of nuclear or wind energy generation either, it appears Brunei has remained consistently reliant on fossil fuels for over a decade. This presents an urgent call to action for Brunei to shift from this stagnant state and adopt cleaner, low-carbon energy sources for its electricity generation.