Electricity in Martinique in 2022

As of 2022, Martinique relies heavily on fossil fuels for its electricity generation, with more than 70% of its electricity coming from these sources. This highlights a significant dependency on fossil fuels, which are known for contributing to climate change and air pollution. On the brighter side, around 26% of the island's electricity comes from low-carbon sources, such as biofuels, solar, and wind. Biofuels make up the largest share of clean electricity at roughly 17%, followed by solar power at 6%, and wind energy at close to 3%. Despite this progress in integrating low-carbon energy, there remains ample opportunity to further increase the share of electricity generated from clean sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Suggestions

Martinique can enhance its low-carbon electricity generation by drawing inspiration from countries that have successfully expanded their share of clean energy. For instance, Denmark generates about half of its electricity from wind, showcasing the potential for harnessing wind resources. Similarly, countries like Lebanon and Chile have made significant strides in solar energy, with solar making up over 20% of their electricity generation. Given Martinique's geographical advantages similar to these countries, prioritizing the development of solar and wind power infrastructure could significantly boost the island's clean energy capacity, aligning more closely with successful models and further reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

History

Looking at the historical data, Martinique's journey in developing low-carbon electricity has seen varied progress. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, the island made initial efforts to incorporate solar and geothermal energy, although these did not result in significant electricity generation. In recent years, from 2018 onwards, there has been some momentum in biofuels and consistent attempts to integrate solar and wind energy. For instance, biofuels saw an increase in generation in 2018 and 2019 but have since remained stagnant. The lack of growth in other clean energy types suggests that Martinique has room for improvement in diversifying and expanding its low-carbon electricity sources to create a more sustainable and green energy future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources