Electricity in Guyana in 2023
In 2023, Guyana's electricity landscape is predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, with over 90% of its electricity generated from these sources. The use of low-carbon or clean energy is limited, making up less than 10% of the electricity mix. Within the clean energy group, biofuels contribute slightly over 5%, while solar energy accounts for a little more than 1%. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels highlights a significant area for improvement if Guyana is to combat issues such as climate change and air pollution effectively through sustainable energy solutions.
Is Electricity Growing in Guyana?
Electricity consumption in Guyana has shown growth, with the latest figure reaching 1,622 kWh per person in 2023, marking an increase from the previous year. This reflects a growth of 76 kWh per person, indicating a gradual rise in electricity demand, likely driven by ongoing economic development and increased electrification needs. Encouragingly, the use of low-carbon electricity has also seen significant advancements. The generation of low-carbon electricity has risen to 109 kWh per person from 40 kWh in 2015, showcasing a positive trend towards cleaner energy adoption, with a notable increase of 69 kWh per person since 2015.
Suggestions
To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Guyana can draw inspiration from other regions that have successfully harnessed solar and nuclear energy. For instance, countries like France, which generates nearly 70% of its electricity from nuclear power, demonstrate the potential of nuclear energy as a large-scale, reliable electricity source. Furthermore, the adoption of solar energy is evident in countries like Lebanon and Nevada, where solar contributes over 30% and nearly 30% of electricity generation, respectively. Guyana could focus on enhancing solar infrastructure, thanks to its favorable climate, along with considering the development of nuclear power to establish a clean, sustainable, and diverse electricity mix for the future.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Guyana indicates a rather slow yet emerging interest in clean energy sources over the years. Between 2000 and 2015, biofuels were consistently present but did not contribute any growth to electricity generation. Solar energy made its initial recorded presence in 2017; however, it remained stagnant until recent years. Biofuels saw a minor increase of 0.1 TWh in 2023. These trends suggest a strong need for accelerated expansion and investment in low-carbon technologies like solar and nuclear to diversify the electricity supply, decrease fossil fuel dependency, and address environmental concerns.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.