In 2022, fossil fuels supplied almost two-thirds of Guadeloupe’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources provided just over a third. Coal alone accounted for about 13% of electricity. Among clean electricity sources, biofuels contributed around 15%, solar and wind each supplied nearly 7%, and geothermal provided about 6%. This leaves considerable scope to expand clean electricity and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, along with their climate and air-pollution impacts.

Is Electricity Growing in Guadeloupe?

Electricity consumption per person in Guadeloupe remained below its historical peak in 2022: about 4,260 kWh, compared with roughly 4,380 kWh in 2016. That is a shortfall of 111 kWh per person, or around 3%, rather than a new consumption record. Low-carbon electricity generation, however, reached a new high of about 1,480 kWh per person, exceeding the 2021 record by 79 kWh, or nearly 6%. This clean-electricity growth is encouraging, although the figures do not establish whether total electricity consumption grew from 2021 to 2022. Expanding clean supply would help support future electrification and additional electricity demand.

Suggestions

Guadeloupe could accelerate solar deployment on rooftops and suitable sites, drawing lessons from other sunny island regions. Solar supplies about 23% of electricity in both Cyprus and the US state of Hawaii—more than three times Guadeloupe’s share. Storage and grid upgrades could help integrate more solar and wind, while Ireland, where wind supplies about a third of electricity, offers useful experience in operating an island electricity system with substantial wind generation. Nuclear should also be considered as part of long-term clean-electricity planning, drawing on France’s expertise: nuclear supplies about two-thirds of its electricity. Assessing nuclear options suited to Guadeloupe’s electricity system, alongside faster solar expansion, could identify further opportunities for dependable low-carbon generation.

History

The supplied historical figures show several distinct steps forward amid many years with little recorded change. Biofuel generation was unchanged in the listed years of the early 2000s, while geothermal generation increased by about 0.1 TWh in 2005. Solar then added around 0.1 TWh in 2012. Across the other listed years from the mid-2000s through 2020, geothermal and biofuel generation generally showed no recorded increase. The largest listed gain came in 2021, when biofuel generation rose by 0.2 TWh, while wind, geothermal and hydro showed no change at the reported precision. Geothermal was again unchanged in 2022. These intermittent gains are welcome, but the repeated pauses underline the need for more sustained growth in clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade