In 2022, more than 70% of electricity consumed in French Guiana came from low-carbon sources, while fossil fuels supplied almost 29%. Hydropower dominated the mix at about 61%, with solar and biofuels contributing roughly 5% each. This gives French Guiana a strong clean electricity foundation, although replacing the remaining fossil generation would help reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in French Guiana?

The figures do not show sustained growth in electricity consumption per person. In 2022, consumption was about 3,300 kWh per person, roughly 380 kWh—or 10%—below the record reached in 2012. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 2,350 kWh per person, around 260 kWh below its 2006 peak, also a decline of about 10%. These shortfalls are concerning as electrification and growing digital demand call for more clean electricity. However, comparisons with past records alone do not establish the latest annual trend or whether total electricity consumption has grown.

Suggestions

French Guiana should prioritize expanding solar generation alongside its existing hydropower, drawing lessons from places such as the US state of Hawaii, where solar supplies 23% of electricity, and Chile, where it supplies 24%. Hawaii offers a useful example of solar deployment in an isolated electricity system, although local conditions differ. Rooftop solar, larger solar installations, storage, and grid improvements could support greater clean electricity supply. French Guiana should also assess nuclear generation suited to its future electricity needs, drawing on France’s expertise: nuclear supplies about two-thirds of France’s electricity. Together, solar expansion and consideration of nuclear could help diversify low-carbon supply and displace fossil fuels.

History

The supplied history shows hydropower fluctuating rather than achieving sustained expansion. During the 2000s, generation fell by 0.1 TWh in 2003, recovered by the same amount in 2004, rose again in 2006, and then declined in 2007 and by a further 0.2 TWh in 2009. In the early 2010s, increases of 0.1 TWh in both 2010 and 2012 were followed by a decline of 0.1 TWh in 2013. From 2016 through 2021, successive decreases and recoveries of around 0.1 TWh continued, ending with an increase in 2021. The listed solar change in 2011 and biofuel change in 2021 were both zero at the reported precision. Overall, this uneven record underscores the need for sustained additions to clean electricity generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade