Malawi's current state of electricity consumption reveals a significant dependency on low-carbon energy sources with a total generation of around 1.75 TWh in 2022. Hydropower is the dominant source, contributing approximately 1.69 TWh, indicating that nearly all of the country's low-carbon electricity generation comes from this source. However, when compared to the global average, Malawi's electricity consumption per person stands at 89 kWh, accounting for only a small fraction, less than 3% of the global average of 3781 kWh/person. Such low levels of electricity generation can be a hurdle to economic development, as insufficient power supply may restrict industrial growth, limit modern infrastructure, and impact quality of life by limiting access to essential services like healthcare and education.
Is Electricity Growing in Malawi?
Unfortunately, the electricity situation in Malawi does not seem to be improving. From a higher consumption level in 2014, averaging 131 kWh per person, the country experienced a decline to 89 kWh per person by 2022. This decrease is observed both in overall electricity consumption and in the generation of low-carbon electricity. The latter dropped from a peak of 123 kWh per person in 2014 to 85 kWh per person in 2022. This trend of declining electricity indicates significant challenges in maintaining even the current levels of consumption, let alone expanding it to support future development. Increasing electricity access and capacity, particularly through clean energy avenues, should be a priority to revitalize the growth trajectory.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Malawi can draw inspiration from other regions that have successfully harnessed solar, wind, and nuclear power. The People's Republic of China and India have made impressive strides in solar energy, generating 890 TWh and 150 TWh from it, respectively. Meanwhile, countries like the United States and France have shown the benefits of embracing nuclear energy, producing significant amounts at 781 TWh and 363 TWh, respectively. Malawi, with its ample sun exposure, could benefit immensely from expanding solar infrastructure alongside exploring options for safely integrating nuclear power into their energy mix. Such steps could significantly increase electricity availability and foster sustainable economic growth.
History
Historically, Malawi's low-carbon electricity generation has seen growth primarily through hydropower. This is evident from increments mostly in the 1990s and 2000s, with instances in 1992, 1997, 1998, and between 2000 to 2014, where hydroelectric output frequently increased by 0.1 TWh. A notable increase of 0.3 TWh occurred in 2010. Since then, fluctuations occurred with minor declines seen later in 2017 and 2018, where hydropower generation reduced by 0.1 TWh and 0.4 TWh, respectively. However, 2019 witnessed a resurgence with a positive shift of 0.3 TWh. This historical dominance of hydropower highlights the need for diversification to include other forms of clean energy to ensure consistent and resilient low-carbon electricity generation growth.