In 2022, the electricity consumption landscape in Djibouti heavily relied on imports, accounting for nearly 80% of its total electricity needs. The remaining electricity was generated domestically, with fossil fuels making up approximately 20% of the mix. This means that Djibouti's reliance on low-carbon energy sources is virtually negligible in terms of its total electricity generation. This heavy dependence on fossil fuels and electricity imports highlights a significant opportunity for the country to transition towards more sustainable and clean energy sources.
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Djibouti can draw lessons from countries that have successfully diversified their energy portfolios. For instance, Denmark generates approximately 61% of its electricity from wind energy, showing the potential of wind power even in relatively smaller nations. Greece and Chile have made significant strides with solar power, generating around 22% and 21% of their electricity from solar energy, respectively. Djibouti, with its high solar irradiance and wind potential, can replicate these models. Additionally, nuclear energy, which plays a pivotal role in Europe's clean energy generation, can also be considered; France generates 67% of its electricity from nuclear power, demonstrating its scalability and reliability as a clean energy source.
Historically, Djibouti's journey with low-carbon electricity generation has been virtually non-existent, as evidenced by the absence of data on significant contributions from clean energy sources. Unlike countries that have consistently invested in and expanded their low-carbon energy infrastructure over decades, Djibouti's focus has remained limited, with a notable dependence on fossil fuels and imports. Moving forward, this historical gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Djibouti to rapidly adopt and scale up low-carbon technologies like wind, solar, and even nuclear energy, setting a new course towards sustainable and independent electricity generation.