Electricity in Dominican Republic in 2021
In the Dominican Republic, the level of electricity consumption is relatively low compared to the global average. The total electricity consumption per person stands at 180.51 watts, which is less than half of the global average of 412 watts per person. Most of this electricity comes from fossil fuels, accounting for just over 149.5 watts per person. This includes gas at around 65.8 watts and coal at almost 46.72 watts per person. The remaining 31.01 watts per person comes from low-carbon energy sources, including wind, hydropower, solar, and biofuels. Wind energy contributes 13.25 watts, hydropower 10.27 watts, solar energy 5.44 watts while biofuels account for a mere 2.05 watts per person. These lower levels of electricity generation might cause the population to rely more on other forms of energy, potentially ones that produce more greenhouse gases. Interestingly, the Dominican Republic neither imports nor exports electricity, making it completely reliant on its domestic energy production.
Suggestions
Increasing the proportion of low-carbon energy could benefit the Dominican Republic both environmentally and economically. Indexed to populations similar in size, the Dominican Republic could learn from the experiences of countries like Uruguay and Denmark, who generate 160 and 369 watts per person from wind energy respectively. Alternatively, Australia's progress in solar energy production could present a valuable case study, producing 147 watts per person, considering their comparably sunny climate. Each demonstrates strategic investments in specific low-carbon technologies suited to their geo-climatic advantages. By following these examples, the Dominican Republic could significantly improve its energy sustainability while also reducing its reliance on environmentally harmful fossil fuels.
History
The journey toward low-carbon electricity in the Dominican Republic has seen a remarkable reliance on hydropower since 1976, albeit with fluctuations. The late 1970s saw a slight increase in hydroelectricity, notably in 1976, where there was a rise of 0.4 terrawatt-hours (TWh). This trend slightly dipped in the early 1980s but rebounded in 1981 with an increase of 0.8 TWh. A similar pattern of minor increases and decreases continued throughout the late 20th century and into the early 21st century. In 2020, however, the country began to experiment with wind energy generation, adding 0.3 TWh to the national grid. With this initial success, the future of low-carbon electricity in the Dominican Republic might well lie in a combination of hydro and wind energy.