Electricity in Burkina Faso in 2023
In 2023, the electricity consumption landscape in Burkina Faso reveals a strong reliance on external and fossil energy sources. The country imports a little over 1.5 TWh of electricity annually, which constitutes a key part of its energy supply. This is closely followed by fossil energy, which contributes approximately 1.4 TWh to the total electricity consumption. Clean or low-carbon sources, which include hydro, solar, and biofuels, comprise a minimal fraction of overall electricity generation, reflecting an area with vast room for development. When comparing to the global average electricity consumption of 3813 kWh per person, Burkina Faso's 144 kWh per person is significantly lower. This disparity can impact the country's economic progress and access to modern technologies, as insufficient electricity generation can limit industrial growth and the quality of life.
Is Electricity Growing in Burkina Faso?
Recent trends indicate a minor decline in electricity consumption within Burkina Faso. The most recent data from 2023 show that electricity consumption per person decreased slightly from the previous record of 147 kWh per person in 2021 to 144 kWh per person, marking a modest change of 3 kWh per person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation experienced a small decrease, from 14 kWh per person in 2021 to 13 kWh per person in 2023. This stagnation or minor reduction in electricity consumption and especially in clean electricity generation is concerning and highlights an urgent need for growth in low-carbon electricity infrastructure.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Burkina Faso can take inspiration from countries making significant strides in this sector, particularly in similar climate conditions. For instance, India has seen considerable growth in solar energy with 134 TWh generated. This positions solar as a viable solution for Burkina Faso, given its abundant sunshine. Brazil's experience with both wind (108 TWh) and solar (75 TWh) also sets an encouraging precedent. Furthermore, China's impressive solar (834 TWh) and wind (992 TWh) generation demonstrate the immense potential these sources hold. Learning from these nations, Burkina Faso could prioritize the expansion of solar energy infrastructure, optimizing its geographical advantage, and possibly consider future integration of nuclear energy for a stable and robust clean energy mix.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Burkina Faso shows fluctuating development mainly in hydroelectric power. Notably, the late 1990s saw minor increases in hydroelectric generation, with incremental growths of 0.1 TWh in both 1996 and 1999. Since the early 2000s, hydroelectric generation has unfortunately seen no growth. However, 2016 briefly marked another modest increase of 0.1 TWh. Turning to solar and biofuels, 2018 was promising with the introduction of 0.1 TWh each from these sources. However, subsequent years have not seen any notable expansion. These initial forays suggest potential that, while yet to be fully realized, provides a foundation upon which Burkina Faso might build future low-carbon energy strategies.