Electricity in Cook Islands in 2022

In 2022, Cook Islands saw an even split in its electricity consumption sources between low-carbon and fossil energy, each contributing to 50% of the total electricity generated. Remarkably, all of the low-carbon electricity was generated from solar power, accounting for a significant portion of the country's energy consumption. This reflects Cook Islands' efforts in harnessing clean energy, though there is still an equal reliance on fossil fuels, underlining the potential for further development in low-carbon sectors to enhance sustainability and reduce reliance on polluting fossil sources.

Suggestions

To increase the generation of low-carbon electricity, Cook Islands can build upon its robust solar infrastructure. Given the impressive results already achieved with solar, expanding this sector seems advantageous and feasible. Additionally, Cook Islands can learn from nations like Denmark and Uruguay, which have effectively integrated wind energy into their systems, with 61% and 36% of their electricity, respectively, coming from wind. These countries demonstrate that diversifying the portfolio of low-carbon sources with wind, alongside solar, can further reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Given Cook Islands' geographic characteristics, wind energy might offer a promising complementary solution to their existing solar capabilities.

History

Low-carbon electricity in Cook Islands has maintained a steady presence in recent years, with solar energy consistently contributing to the supply line without notable increases since 2017. The lack of growth in solar capacity over these years suggests a stagnant phase. Despite the stable generation, this plateau indicates room for enhancement in the deployment of low-carbon technologies to meet rising electricity demands sustainably. Thus, investing in additional infrastructure and exploring other clean energy avenues could propel Cook Islands towards a greener and more self-reliant electrical future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources