In the Dominican Republic, electricity consumption is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with over 80% coming from such sources between July 2024 and June 2025. Specifically, gas contributes almost 40% and coal nearly 29% to the electricity mix. In contrast, low-carbon or clean energy sources account for just over 18% of the total electricity generation. This greener segment is made up of hydropower, solar, and wind, each contributing between 4% and 7% to the country's electricity. While a notable portion of electricity generation in the Dominican Republic is clean energy, the overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels is a significant concern for sustainability and has potential negative impacts on climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Dominican Republic?
The current trends in electricity consumption in the Dominican Republic indicate a worrisome decline. The latest total electricity consumption is at 2109 kWh per person, down from the previous record of 2321 kWh per person in 2024—showing a decrease of 212 kWh per person. The low-carbon electricity generation has witnessed a similar decline, dropping from its past peak of 432 kWh per person in 2024 to 394 kWh per person recently, marking a decrease of 39 kWh per person. These reductions in electricity consumption, especially in the clean energy segment, are concerning as they point towards contraction in a sector that is crucial for sustainable growth and meeting future energy demands.
Suggestions
The Dominican Republic can learn from other regions with successful low-carbon electricity generation and aim to increase its clean energy share. Countries like France and Slovakia, with their high nuclear energy contributions, show how significant nuclear can be in reducing fossil fuel dependencies. Similarly, promoting solar energy, as seen in countries like Yemen and Greece, which have significant solar generation, would be advantageous. Additionally, the wind energy initiatives from Denmark and Iowa offer lessons in harnessing wind for cleaner electricity. Emulating these successful regions, the Dominican Republic can prioritize both solar and nuclear energy to propel its low-carbon electricity generation, thus reducing reliance on fossil fuels and paving the way for a more sustainable future.
History
Examining the history of low-carbon electricity in the Dominican Republic, it is apparent there were various fluctuations over the decades, particularly in hydropower. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, hydropower saw positive growth with years like 1976 and 1981 witnessing increases. However, subsequent years saw declines, particularly in 1989, 1994, and 2014, with significant reduction phases. The early 2000s brought some recovery, peaking in 2016 and 2017, before minor declines thereafter. More recently, solar energy has been on the rise, notably in 2022 and 2024, indicating a budding shift towards broader low-carbon solutions. These historical insights underscore the importance of stabilizing and increasing clean energy investments, particularly solar and nuclear, to sustain growth in green electricity.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.