In 2022, electricity consumption in Macao SAR China primarily relied on net imports, accounting for almost 91% of the total. This heavy reliance on external sources signals a significant dependency on imported electricity to meet local demands. Nearly all remaining locally generated electricity comes from fossil sources and a small share of low-carbon sources. Fossil energy constitutes about 5.4%, while low-carbon energy, which includes biofuels, contributes about 3.7%. The limited contribution from biofuels as the sole low-carbon energy source highlights a significant opportunity for Macao to expand its clean energy mix to include more robust sources such as solar and nuclear energy.

Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and Enerdata. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Macao SAR China?

Macao SAR China has not seen growth in its electricity consumption over recent years. In 2022, the per capita electricity consumption was around 7,610 kWh, which represented a decrease of over 1,000 kWh per person compared to the historic high in 2019. Furthermore, the generation of low-carbon electricity also saw a decline with the current levels standing at roughly 284 kWh per person, which is significantly lower than the record high of 426 kWh per person reached in 2014. This decline not only signals potential issues in sustainable electricity infrastructure but also a concerning trend for meeting the future demand driven by electrification and technological growth.

Suggestions

To enhance low-carbon electricity generation in Macao, the region can take inspiration from successful examples worldwide. Countries like France and Slovakia have seen tremendous success in generating a substantial portion of electricity from nuclear power, achieving around 70% and 66% of their electricity mix, respectively. Solar energy provides another clean and highly scalable option, with states like Nevada and California already deriving over 30% of their electricity from solar power. By investing in nuclear and solar infrastructure, Macao can reduce its reliance on imports and fossil fuels, steering towards a more sustainable and self-sufficient electricity supply.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Macao SAR China has seen minimal change, especially in the sphere of biofuels, which has shown at most slight fluctuations since 2001. Notably, in 2015, there was a small decline, but since then, no significant changes have occurred. This stagnation underscores the need for transformative action to diversify the energy mix towards more sustainable and scalable low-carbon sources. Given the increasing urgency of climate change and the potential for cleaner, healthier air, a shift towards expanded nuclear and solar capacity would be an important and progressive step for Macao.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade