Electricity in Dominican Republic in 2022

In 2022, the Dominican Republic heavily relied on fossil fuels for its electricity consumption, with more than 85% of its electricity generated from fossil sources. Specifically, natural gas contributed nearly 38%, and coal accounted for about 28%. The remaining, much smaller fraction of electricity generation came from low-carbon sources. About 6% of electricity was generated from wind, close to 5% came from hydropower, and roughly 3% was produced from solar energy. This significant skew towards fossil fuels raises concerns regarding climate change and air pollution, highlighting a critical need for the country to increase its use of clean energy technologies.

Suggestions

To boost its low-carbon electricity generation, the Dominican Republic can draw lessons from countries that have successfully implemented sustainable energy strategies. Denmark, for example, generates over 60% of its electricity from wind energy, suggesting that the Dominican Republic could likewise expand its wind power capabilities. Similar countries, like Uruguay, have also successfully integrated wind into their energy mix, with wind accounting for 36% of its electricity. On the solar front, Greece and Chile have made significant strides, generating over 20% of their electricity from solar. These cases demonstrate the potential benefits of adopting and expanding wind and solar technologies. Moreover, nuclear energy should be considered for its ability to provide a stable, reliable, and substantial proportion of low-carbon electricity, as evidenced by France and Slovakia, which generate around 67% and 60% of their electricity from nuclear sources, respectively.

History

Historically, the Dominican Republic has seen fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation, primarily from hydropower. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, hydroelectric outputs varied, with noticeable increases, such as a 0.8 TWh rise in 1981, followed by declines. The 1990s witnessed more modest changes, including a 0.6 TWh rise in 1993 and similar fluctuations in subsequent years. After 2000, the trend continued with minor increases and decreases, reflecting a lack of consistent growth in hydropower. More recently, in 2020, the country experienced an initial incorporation of wind power with a 0.3 TWh increase. The varied historical efforts underline the necessity for more stable and diverse investment in low-carbon technologies, such as wind, solar, and nuclear power, to ensure sustainable energy growth in the future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources