In 2018, Curaçao's electricity largely relied on fossil fuels, with more than two-thirds of its electricity generated from oil, accounting for about 71% of the total. Clean electricity, on the other hand, constituted nearly 30% of the country's electricity mix. Within this low-carbon segment, wind energy was the dominant source, supplying a substantial 27% of the island's power needs, while solar energy made a modest contribution of over 2%. This distribution highlights the significant role that fossil fuels continue to play, yet also the notable presence of clean energy, particularly wind, in the country's electricity mix.
Data sources used on this page include IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Curaçao?
Between the year 2010 when electricity usage peaked at 8,436 kWh per person and 2018, Curaçao experienced a significant decline in total electricity consumption per capita, dropping to 4,770 kWh. This represents a substantial reduction of 3,666 kWh and marks a concerning trend of shrinking electricity use. Interestingly, however, the clean electricity per capita grew positively; from 2017 to 2018, low-carbon electricity rose by 278 kWh per person, from 1,116 kWh to 1,394 kWh. While it is disheartening to observe an overall decline in electricity consumption, the growth in clean energy indicates positive movement towards more sustainable electricity sources in Curaçao.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Curaçao can focus on expanding existing wind energy infrastructure as it already plays a crucial role in the island's clean electricity production. To diversify its clean electricity sources and potentially fill the gap left by fossil fuels, Curaçao can explore setting up nuclear power plants given their large-scale energy generation capacity, as seen in countries like France and Slovakia where nuclear contributes to more than half of the electricity mix. Additionally, investing in solar energy, inspired by the successes in regions like California and Lebanon, could be particularly promising due to Curaçao's favorable climatic conditions. By learning from these leading regions, Curaçao can further strengthen its efforts towards clean electricity, contributing sustainably to its energy needs while addressing climate change and air pollution.
History
Tracing the history of low-carbon electricity in Curaçao reveals a slow yet positive progression primarily in wind energy. Starting in the early 2000s, with a notable addition in 2001 generating 0.1 TWh, there has been steady albeit minimal growth in wind energy deployment by 2013. While the years leading up to 2018 only saw an increment of 0.1 TWh in 2018, it is crucial to highlight this as a stepping stone toward desired growth. Solar energy, while showing promise, has yet to experience significant output increases as indicated by an absence of discernible growth since its initial record in 2013. Curaçao's trajectory shows hints of green energy transformation, and there is tremendous potential for acceleration with focused efforts on the expansion of reliable low-carbon electricity sources, primarily wind, solar, and critically, nuclear power for future growth and sustainability.
