In 2024, electricity consumption in the Dominican Republic is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which make up more than four-fifths of the total electricity generation, with nearly a third coming from gas and another third from coal. On the other hand, low-carbon energy sources, which include solar, hydropower, and wind, constitute around a fifth of the electricity mix. Solar energy contributes almost 7%, hydropower accounts for nearly 7%, and wind energy is a little over 4%. Despite the low-carbon sector's presence, it remains overshadowed by the dominance of fossil fuels, highlighting a significant opportunity for growth in sustainable electricity generation as the country aims to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change.
Is Electricity Growing in Dominican Republic?
Electricity consumption in the Dominican Republic is on an upward trajectory, with the latest figures for 2024 showing an increase to 2345 kWh per person, up from the previous record of 2167 kWh per person in 2023. This represents an increase of 177 kWh per person, indicating a growing demand for electricity. Specifically, the portion of this growth attributable to low-carbon generation reached 437 kWh per person, up from the previous year's low-carbon record of 374 kWh per person, marking an increase of 63 kWh per person. This growth is a positive development, reflecting the country's commitment to clean energy despite the overarching reliance on fossil fuels.
Suggestions
To accelerate the transition to low-carbon electricity, the Dominican Republic can draw inspiration from countries that have successfully incorporated substantial shares of clean energy into their electricity mix, particularly solar and wind. For instance, Denmark and Ireland, where a significant portion of electricity is generated from wind power—over half and almost a third, respectively—demonstrate the potential of investing in wind energy. Additionally, leveraging solar power, as seen in countries like Lebanon and Chile, which both generate a substantial portion of their electricity from solar, would be advantageous given the Dominican Republic's abundant sunlight. Furthermore, exploring the possibility of adopting nuclear energy, as practiced by several European countries, could offer a steady and large-scale contribution to the stable and sustainable electricity supply needed for future growth.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in the Dominican Republic shows a fluctuating but ultimately positive trend. In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, hydropower saw some ups and downs, with a notable decline in 1989. This was followed by a period of modest increases in the 1990s and early 2000s, with both gains and losses in hydropower. The most recent decade began with improved gains in hydropower around 2016 and 2017, despite some minor setbacks in subsequent years. Entering the 2020s, solar energy emerged as a new player on the scene, with incremental growth in 2022 and 2024, indicating an increasing diversification of the low-carbon energy portfolio. This trend underscores the need for strategic investments in both existing and emerging clean energy technologies to solidify the country's path toward a sustainable electricity future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.