In the Dominican Republic, electricity consumption over the past year, from July 2024 to June 2025, heavily relied on fossil sources, which constituted more than four-fifths of the total electricity generated. Gas accounted for about 40% and coal made up nearly 29% of the total fossil fuel consumption. On the other hand, low-carbon or clean energy represented just over 18% of the overall electricity mix. Hydropower, solar, and wind were the primary sources of clean electricity, each contributing around 6.6%, 6.5%, and 4.7% respectively. This shows a significant skew towards fossil fuels, indicating a critical need for expanding cleaner energy sources to combat climate change and reduce air pollution.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Dominican Republic?
The growth of electricity consumption in the Dominican Republic appears to be on a downward trend. In 2025, the total electricity consumption per person decreased to 2109 kWh from the previous high of 2204 kWh per person set in 2024, marking a decline of 95 kWh per person. However, there was a slight improvement in the low-carbon sector, with the generation increasing to 394 kWh per person from 367 kWh per person in the previous year. This improvement, amounting to an increase of 27 kWh per person, suggests a modest shift towards cleaner energy sources despite the overall decline in consumption, but the pace of this positive change needs to accelerate significantly to have a meaningful impact on overall energy trends.
Suggestions
For the Dominican Republic to bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, the country should look to successful regions and integrate more solar and nuclear energy into its mix. For instance, Lebanon is excelling with 31% of its electricity generated from solar, while France stands out with 69% from nuclear energy. Learning from these regions, the Dominican Republic could invest more in solar technology due to its abundant sunshine, and explore nuclear energy as a reliable and large-scale low-carbon source. Additionally, wind energy, as seen in Iowa with 60% of its electricity coming from wind, can also be an area of development. By adopting these strategies, the nation can potentially enhance its clean energy output and reduce its heavy reliance on fossil fuels.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in the Dominican Republic reveals fluctuating trends. During the 1980s and 1990s, hydropower saw periods of growth and decline, with increases peaking in years like 1981 and 1993, but notable downturns later, such as in 1989 and 2000. In recent years, from 2021 to 2023, there has been a positive uptick in low-carbon sources, with solar and wind experiencing substantial growth in 2023 after setbacks in 2022. This recent positive trend in solar and wind energy demonstrates the potential for clean energy development when there is focused investment and incentives. Moving forward, maintaining and strengthening this growth trajectory will be vital for the country's energy resilience and climate goals.
