Haiti's electricity consumption remains significantly low, with an average use of 88 kWh per person in 2022, far below the global average of 3781 kWh per person. This undersupply leads to substantial challenges, including limited access to essential services, hampered economic growth, and poor quality of life. Very little of Haiti’s electricity generation comes from clean sources, with low-carbon generation accounting for just 17 kWh per person. The majority of the nation's electricity comes from fossil fuels, which poses environmental concerns due to emissions that contribute to climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Haiti?
Electricity generation in Haiti has unfortunately declined rather than grown in recent years. The total consumption dropped from a previous peak of 109 kWh per person in 2012 to 88 kWh per person in 2022. Similarly, low-carbon electricity saw a significant decrease from its 1990 level of 69 kWh per person to just 17 kWh per person in 2022. These declines in clean electricity, in particular, highlight a troubling trend that could exacerbate the challenges Haiti faces, as it implies reliance on more polluting, conventional power sources.
Suggestions
To enhance Haiti’s low-carbon electricity generation, substantial investments in solar and nuclear energy are crucial. Haiti could benefit from learning from regions like Texas, which has achieved more than 100 TWh generation from wind energy, and from the strong solar initiatives in countries such as India and Brazil, which generated 134 TWh and 75 TWh from solar energy, respectively. Similarly, nuclear energy is a formidable option, as demonstrated by France’s significant reliance on nuclear power, generating 379 TWh. These examples underscore the potential for Haiti to develop both solar and nuclear energy infrastructure, paving the way for a cleaner and more resilient electricity supply.
History
Haiti's history of low-carbon electricity generation has largely revolved around hydroelectric power. The early years, such as the 1970s and 1980s, saw modest increases in hydroelectric capacity, with small expansions occurring sporadically up until the late 1990s. Unfortunately, the first few decades of the 21st century have been marked by fluctuations without substantial progress, highlighted by minor gains and losses with a slight positive growth observed in 2022. While hydroelectric development has provided some level of clean utility, the overall impact has been insufficient to meet growing demands and underscores the need for diversifying the electricity mix.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.