Electricity in Martinique in 2021

As of 2021, the electricity sector in Martinique is primarily dominated by fossil fuel sources, with more than three-quarters of electricity generation relying on them. In contrast, low-carbon sources, including biofuels, solar, and wind, make up a little over a quarter of the electricity production. Among these low-carbon options, biofuels contribute almost 17%, while solar and wind together account for just about 9% of the total electricity generation (almost 6% from solar and over 3% from wind). The heavy reliance on fossil fuels translates into significant emissions contributing to climate change and air pollution. This highlights an imperative need for a transition towards more sustainable and clean energy sources.

Suggestions

To increase the share of low-carbon electricity generation, Martinique can take cues from other countries that have significantly invested in clean energy technologies. For instance, countries like Denmark and Uruguay have excelled in utilizing wind power, contributing approximately 59% and 36% of their electricity, respectively, from this sustainable source. Similarly, Greece and Chile have successfully embraced solar energy, with solar contributing around 20% to their electricity mix. Martinique, with its favorable geographic conditions for solar and wind, could emulate these countries by expanding its investments in solar and wind technologies. Moreover, exploring the potential for nuclear energy, as seen in countries like France and Slovakia, which depend heavily on nuclear power for their electricity, could provide a stable and reliable source of low-carbon power for the island.

History

Historically, Martinique's progress with low-carbon electricity generation has been sparse and intermittent. Starting from the early 2000s until the late 2010s, geothermal energy showed no signs of growth, consistently registering zero change in electricity generation. Solar energy also demonstrated negligible advancement during this period, marking no significant change until 2012. The most notable progress came with biofuels, which began contributing to electricity generation with a modest increase of 0.1 TWh in 2018, followed by an increment of 0.2 TWh in 2019, though this expansion did not continue into 2020. Wind energy also saw no change in generation despite being an area with potential. This historical stagnation emphasizes a missed opportunity for Martinique in harnessing its low-carbon resources and underscores the need for more ambitious and integrated strategies to transition towards a more sustainable electricity mix.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources