In 2025, almost four-fifths of electricity consumed in the Dominican Republic came from fossil fuels, while just over one-fifth came from low-carbon sources. Gas supplied about 39% of electricity and coal about 29%, making these the dominant sources. Among clean electricity sources, solar contributed roughly 9%, hydropower 6.5%, and wind nearly 5%. Expanding low-carbon electricity would help reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and their contributions to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Dominican Republic?

Electricity consumption per person declined in 2025, reaching about 2,070 kWh compared with the record of roughly 2,200 kWh in 2024—a fall of 137 kWh, or about 6%. This is concerning as electrification and growing digital services will require more electricity. Clean electricity, however, moved in the right direction: low-carbon generation reached 440 kWh per person, up from the previous record of 367 kWh in 2024. That increase of 73 kWh, or about 20%, is encouraging. These figures show falling overall consumption per person alongside strong growth in clean generation; they do not establish whether total national electricity consumption increased or decreased.

Suggestions

The Dominican Republic should build on its solar growth, expand wind generation, and consider nuclear electricity as part of a larger clean electricity supply. Relevant solar examples include the US state of Hawaii and the island country of Cyprus, where solar provides about 23% of electricity, as well as Chile, at about 24%. Uruguay offers a regional example for wind, which supplies roughly one-third of its electricity. For nuclear, the United Arab Emirates demonstrates how a newer nuclear programme can contribute substantially, supplying about one-fifth of electricity, while France generates roughly two-thirds from nuclear. Learning from these regions’ planning, investment, and workforce development could help the Dominican Republic expand low-carbon generation to meet future demand.

History

The history provided shows uneven hydropower growth followed by more recent gains in solar and wind. Hydropower increased by 0.8 TWh in 1981, but declined by 0.5 TWh in 1982 and 1.2 TWh in 1989. During the 1990s and early 2000s, gains and declines alternated, including increases in 1993, 1999, and 2003. Another decline in 2014 was followed by strong gains totalling 1.3 TWh in 2016–2017, before declines resumed in 2018–2019. In 2022, clean generation suffered a substantial setback: hydropower fell by 1.1 TWh, wind by 1 TWh, and solar by 0.6 TWh. The following year brought an encouraging rebound, with solar and wind each gaining 0.9 TWh and hydropower gaining 0.8 TWh. Solar added another 0.7 TWh in 2025, reinforcing its growing role in the country’s clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade