Electricity in Guyana in 2023
Currently, the state of electricity consumption in Guyana is heavily reliant on fossil energy, with more than 90% of its electricity derived from these sources. Low-carbon energy contributes almost 7% to the total electricity generation. This small portion of cleaner energy is mainly composed of biofuels, which account for a bit more than 5%, and solar energy, contributing close to 1.5%. It's clear that fossil fuels dominate Guyana's electricity mix, leading to greater environmental concerns such as climate change and air pollution, whereas low-carbon energy sources, such as solar and biofuels, maintain a modest presence. Guyana has a significant opportunity to improve its clean energy footprint by investing in solar and exploring nuclear options further.
Is Electricity Growing in Guyana?
The trend of electricity consumption in Guyana is on an upward trajectory. The latest data for 2023 shows electricity consumption at 1,622 kWh per person, which represents an increase of 76 kWh per person from the previous record of 1,546 kWh per person set in 2022. Simultaneously, there's been noteworthy growth in low-carbon electricity generation. In the year 2023, the generation of low-carbon electricity reached 109 kWh per person, which is a substantial rise of 69 kWh per person from the prior record set in 2015. These trends indicate positive momentum towards both increased electricity consumption and enhanced low-carbon energy adoption.
Suggestions
To further increase low-carbon electricity generation, Guyana could draw lessons from regions that have excelled in this pursuit. For solar energy, inspiration can be taken from countries like Lebanon and states like Nevada that generate around 30% of their electricity through solar. Additionally, investment in nuclear energy should be considered, drawing from the success of countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear energy provides more than half of the electricity supply. Moreover, leveraging wind energy could also be explored, taking cues from places like Iowa and South Dakota where wind energy contributes between 60% to 62% to their electricity generation. By adopting a comprehensive approach that includes solar, wind, and nuclear, Guyana can effectively scale up its clean energy capacity.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Guyana has been predominantly stagnant with biofuels contributing nearly constant outputs over the years. Since the year 2000, biofuel-generated electricity has remained consistently unchanged until 2023 when there was a minor increase of 0.1 TWh. Solar energy began to emerge more prominently only in recent years, with data from 2017 and 2019 showing no change but establishing a foundation for future growth. The consistent lack of growth in earlier years presents a significant challenge, but also an opportunity for aggressive strategies focused on scaling solar and introducing nuclear to diversify and expand low-carbon electricity generation in Guyana.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.