Electricity in Dominican Republic in 2022

In 2022, the electricity consumption in the Dominican Republic was overwhelmingly dominated by fossil fuels, comprising more than 85% of its energy mix. Gas, at roughly 38%, and coal, at approximately 28%, emerged as the significant contributors within the fossil category. The remaining portion of the Dominican Republic's electricity came from low-carbon sources, making up a modest 14%. Within this cleaner spectrum, wind power contributed just over 6%, hydropower around 5%, and solar energy near 3%. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels indicates significant room for improvement towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system.

Suggestions

To increase its low-carbon electricity generation, the Dominican Republic can take inspiration from several countries with successful implementation of clean energy technologies. Uruguay and Ireland have demonstrated strong advancements in wind energy, generating 36% and 34% of their electricity from wind, respectively. This highlights the potential for increasing the share of wind power in the Dominican Republic's energy mix. Additionally, countries with similar market sizes and challenges, like Greece and Chile, have enhanced their solar capabilities to account for more than 20% of their electricity. The Dominican Republic can also consider adopting nuclear power by observing its efficient deployment in countries like France, where nuclear energy makes up a remarkable 67% of the electricity.

History

Historically, the development of low-carbon electricity in the Dominican Republic has been primarily centered around hydroelectric power, experiencing fluctuations across decades. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the country saw modest increases in hydroelectric generation but also faced declines in some years. Moving into the 1990s and 2000s, while there were temporary upticks, the overall hydroelectric production exhibited a trend of small increases and decreases. More recently, in the 2010s and beyond, a noticeable addition to the country's low-carbon initiatives was the introduction of wind power in 2020, contributing to a greener electricity mix. The focus now should be on expanding wind, solar, and potentially nuclear for the country to achieve a more balanced and resilient energy portfolio.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources