Electricity in Liberia in 2021
In 2021, Liberia's total electricity consumption was markedly low, with a total of about 20 watts per person. This is significantly below the global average of 412 watts per person, suggesting that the country experiences severe electricity deficits that could negatively impact its economic growth and quality of life. Liberia's electricity is sourced from both low-carbon and fossil energy, with the balance skewing towards low-carbon at about 12 watts per person, all of which is generated from hydropower. Conversely, nearly half of Liberia's electricity is sourced from fossil fuels, reaching close to 9 watts per person. It is important to note that Liberia neither imports nor exports electricity from other countries or regions, meaning it is wholly reliant on its internal generation capabilities.
Suggestions
To increase its low-carbon energy output, Liberia could look towards wind and solar energy, much like Denmark and Australia respectively. The two countries have proven successful in harnessing their respective energy sources, with Denmark generating 369 watts per person from wind energy, and Australia generating 147 watts per person from solar energy. Given Liberia's tropical climate and coastal location, it is well-positioned to take advantage of similar strategies. Furthermore, considering the successful application of nuclear energy in countries with similar electricity demands like Slovenia or Bulgaria, Liberia could also entertain the possibility of nuclear energy as a future electricity source.
History
Looking at the history of Liberia's clean electricity production, there is remarkably little change over the years. Their low-carbon energy production has been dominated by hydropower, seeing a slight increase in 2020, generating an additional 0.5 terawatt-hours (TWh). However, in 2021, the hydropower production saw no incremental gains from the previous year. This stagnant growth shows that while Liberia's reliance on hydropower as a low-carbon energy source has served them so far, they have considerable room for growth and diversity in their low-carbon energy portfolio.