Electricity in Macao SAR China in 2022

In Macao SAR China, the current state of electricity consumption reveals a significant reliance on imports, with more than nine-tenths of its electricity being imported. Fossil energy accounts for a small portion, roughly 5%, of its total electricity consumption. The gas and biofuels sectors contribute similarly, with gas making up about 4% and biofuels slightly higher at close to 4%. Low-carbon or clean energy sources, despite being responsible for the majority of imported electricity, account for a minor share in local generation, sitting under 4% with biofuels as the only contributor in this category. This indicates a considerable gap in local generation from low-carbon sources, underscoring the need for diversification of energy resources to reduce dependency on imports and enhance sustainability in Macao SAR China's energy landscape.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Macao SAR China can learn from the achievements of countries that have successfully integrated nuclear and wind energy. France, for example, derives a significant 67% of its electricity from nuclear power. Similarly, small yet industrialized nations such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic also demonstrate high dependencies on nuclear energy, at 60% and 40%, respectively. These examples highlight the potential for nuclear energy to contribute substantially to the electricity mix. In terms of wind power, Denmark, with 59% of its electricity stemming from wind energy, exemplifies how investing in wind infrastructure can pay great dividends. Both nuclear and wind energy offer promising pathways for decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, combating climate change, and ensuring a cleaner energy future for Macao SAR China.

History

Historically, Macao SAR China has shown minimal progress in adopting low-carbon electricity sources, evidenced by the stagnant change in biofuels generation over the past two decades. In the early 2000s, there was a noticeable upward shift in the adoption of biofuels, with a recorded increase in 2001 and 2003. However, from 2004 onwards, the generation from biofuels remained relatively static, even declining slightly in 2015 before settling into a long period of no change through to 2022. This situation illustrates a long-standing need for an aggressive push towards expanding sustainable energy sources such as nuclear, wind, and solar, which demonstrate proven success across multiple nations and could lead to a robust, clean energy grid for Macao SAR China.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources