Electricity in Guyana in 2023

As of 2023, Guyana's electricity consumption is primarily reliant on fossil fuels, with more than 90% of the electricity being generated from these sources. Close to none of the electricity comes from low-carbon sources, as they only contribute to roughly 7% of the total electricity generation. Among the low-carbon energies, biofuels make up the majority at a little over 5%, while solar contributes almost 1.5%. This heavy dependence on fossil fuels is concerning due to their significant contribution to climate change and air pollution, highlighting the need for Guyana to bolster its investment in clean energy sources like solar and potentially other low-carbon options.

Suggestions

To boost its low-carbon electricity generation, Guyana can take inspiration from countries that have achieved significant success with clean energy. For instance, Uruguay and the Netherlands have capitalized on wind energy, with wind producing around 28% and 27% of their electricity, respectively. Similarly, Chile has demonstrated notable progress with solar energy, achieving 22% of its electricity from this source. Additionally, countries like Lebanon manage to produce a substantial share of their electricity through solar, which provides motivation for Guyana to expand its solar infrastructure. Furthermore, exploring nuclear energy as a reliable and sustainable option, similar to France and Slovakia where nuclear power accounts for more than half of electricity generation, could also contribute to diversifying Guyana's clean energy portfolio.

History

Historically, the development of low-carbon electricity generation in Guyana has been slow. Until 2023, there were no recorded increases in electricity generation from biofuels from the year 2000 through 2020, except a modest rise of 0.1 TWh observed in 2023. For solar energy, there was no measurable growth from its initial recorded year in 2017 up through 2020. This stagnant pattern over the past two decades underscores the pressing need for strategic investment and policy shifts towards low-carbon energy. By actively pursuing a diversified clean energy strategy that includes scaling up solar and biofuels while also considering new opportunities in wind and nuclear energy, Guyana could significantly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and move towards a more sustainable and resilient electricity system.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources