Electricity in Guyana in 2021
Guyana's electricity consumption per capita for the year 2021 totaled 174.52 watts per person, significantly lower than the global average of 412 watts per person. The individual power consumption from fossil fuels is 151.82 watts per person, creating a dominant energy source. This dominance is reflected in the minimal contribution by low-carbon, or clean energy, generating sources, which account for just over 22.7 watts per person. This breakdown further reveals a heavy reliance on biofuels as the primary clean energy type, providing 21.28 watts per person. In contrast, solar energy's contribution is negligible, at approximately 1.42 watts per person. The meager state of clean energy in the overall power consumption is likely to hinder environmental efforts in mitigating climate change and air pollution. Despite the lower power generation, Guyana is a net exporter of electricity.
Suggestions
To increase their low-carbon power generation, Guyana could draw from countries executing successful clean energy programs. As a tropical country, it mirrors Australia, which derives 147 watts per person from solar power, showcasing a potential area of focus. Additionally, Uruguay showcases a significant wind energy effort with 160 watts per person, which could also serve as a viable blueprint for Guyana. Coupled with its favorable tropical location and vast open savannahs, these countries can serve to inspire a tangible expansion in both wind and solar power generation. The feasibility of nuclear power, a significant low carbon power generator in countries like Sweden, Finland, and France, generating over 500 watts per person, could also be evaluated.
History
The use of low-carbon electricity in Guyana has seen minimal growth in the past two decades. The consumption of biofuels, the dominant low-carbon source, saw a slight increase in the year 2000, and again in 2009, each by 0.1 TWh. However, the total generation from biofuels remained stagnant for the most part of the 2000s and the 2010s. Solar, the other source of clean energy, only began its contribution in 2018, but there has not been any significant increase since. This history does not showcase any declines in low-carbon energy generation but illustrates a negligible level of diversity and growth in clean energy sources. Given the potential capacity for clean energy generation, especially in solar and wind power, these figures emphasize the necessity for a re-evaluation and redirection of the country's clean energy efforts.