Electricity in Haiti in 2022

In 2022, electricity consumption in Haiti was notably low, with individual electricity use falling probably beneath what many global citizens might expect. Haiti's electricity generation was largely dependent on fossil fuels, contributing to environmental and economic challenges such as pollution and high costs. The use of low-carbon energy sources for generating electricity in Haiti was almost non-existent, signifying a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Comparatively, the global average of electricity consumption stands at about 3606 watts per person, a level that Haiti struggles to match in a significant way. This disparity can lead to restricted access to stable and affordable electricity, affecting the quality of life, education, and medical services availability as well as slowing down industrial and economic development in the country.

Suggestions

To improve its low-carbon electricity generation, Haiti can look towards integrating more solar and wind energy sources, learning from countries that have successfully harnessed these technologies. For instance, countries like Brazil and India, which also have significant developing regions, have made substantial advances in wind and solar electricity with Brazil generating 97 TWh from wind and India reaching 125 TWh from solar. By adopting similar strategies such as investing in small-scale solar projects and utilizing wind energy potential along its coasts, Haiti could see improvements in its electricity supply. Additionally, looking at wind energy, the experiences of countries like Spain and the United Kingdom, which generate 62 TWh and 86 TWh respectively, show that mid-sized economies can excel in wind energy generation, offering strategic insights for Haiti's context.

History

Historically, Haiti has relied almost exclusively on hydroelectric power for low-carbon electricity. Since the early 1970s, the progress in hydroelectricity generation has seen only minor fluctuations, with occasional increases and decreases around 0.1 TWh. Specifically, from the 1970s to the 2010s, any growth or decline in hydroelectric output has been minimal and inconsistent. The last significant addition took place in 2018 with an increase of 0.1 TWh. This historical data suggests a stagnation in exploring new sources of low-carbon electricity, urging Haiti to pivot towards more innovative solutions such as solar and wind that can adapt to Haiti's needs and break the cycle of dependency on any single energy source. Investing in a mix of green energy technologies will not only diversify Haiti's electricity generation portfolio but also insulate against the potential adversities of climate change and economic fluctuations.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources