Electricity in Malawi in 2022

In 2022, electricity consumption in Malawi was primarily focused on low-carbon sources, with a total of 1.27 TWh generated from such sources. Hydropower was a significant contributor, delivering 1.05 TWh of electricity. This indicates that almost all of Malawi's electricity comes from clean sources, aligning well with global aspirations to reduce carbon emissions. However, the total electricity available per person in Malawi is significantly below the global average of 3,638 watts per person, reflecting the country's challenges in generating sufficient electricity. These low levels of electricity generation can hinder economic development, limit technological expansion, and adversely affect living standards, reinforcing the urgent need for increased generation capacity.

Suggestions

To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Malawi should focus on expanding its solar energy capacity, as solar power has already shown promise in the nation. Observing other successful countries, such as India and Brazil, Malwi can draw lessons from their significant improvements in solar and wind energy production, up to 128 TWh and 102 TWh respectively, despite being developing economies with similar challenges. Additionally, adopting nuclear energy can be a strategic move, as evidenced by the substantial electricity generated through nuclear power in countries like China and India. Wind power, too, can play an important role, learning from the experiences of countries like the United Kingdom and Brazil, which have effectively harnessed their wind resources to increase their green energy output significantly.

History

Historically, Malawi has relied primarily on hydropower as a low-carbon electricity source, with incremental developments throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, reflecting consistent efforts to increase hydroelectric capacity. However, there have been periods of decline, notably in 2017 and 2018, where hydroelectric generation fell by 0.1 TWh and 0.5 TWh, respectively, possibly due to climatic challenges affecting water levels. Notably, in 2019, Malawi successfully integrated an additional 0.1 TWh of solar electricity into its grid, marking a shift towards diversifying its low-carbon energy portfolio. Moving forward, to build a reliable and sustainable electricity system, Malawi could benefit significantly from continued investments in both hydroelectric revitalization and new solar energy projects, while exploring nuclear energy options for a substantial boost in power generation capacity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources