Electricity in Nauru in 2023
In 2023, Nauru's electricity consumption is entirely reliant on fossil fuels, with 100% of its electricity coming from these non-clean sources. This indicates a significant challenge for the island nation as it relies solely on fossil energy, which contributes to environmental issues such as climate change and pollution. Nauru's current energy mix lacks any form of low-carbon generation like solar, wind, or nuclear power, which are essential for creating a sustainable and environment-friendly energy future. The absence of clean energy sources hampers the country's ability to reduce its carbon footprint and transition towards greener energy solutions.
Is Electricity Growing in Nauru?
The electricity consumption in Nauru shows a slightly declining trend, with the latest figures indicating a consumption rate of about 3,376 kWh per person, down from 3,488 kWh per person in 2018. This represents a decrease of around 113 kWh per individual. Despite this reduction in overall electricity usage, the amount of low-carbon electricity has remained stagnant at zero kWh per person, a figure unchanged since the year 2000. This stagnation is concerning, as it suggests that there has been no progress in integrating clean energy into Nauru’s electricity supply, therefore, continuing its full dependence on fossil fuels which is not sustainable in the long term.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Nauru could learn from regions successfully utilizing solar and nuclear energy. Countries like Lebanon with solar energy comprising 31% of its electricity generation, or Cyprus at 22%, demonstrate how solar power can significantly contribute to a nation’s energy mix. Nauru's geographical characteristics could be well-suited for solar power, much like Cape Verde or Samoa, where solar contributes around 13-14% to electricity generation. Moreover, adopting solar technology similar to New Mexico or Nevada could help reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, exploring nuclear energy could substantially benefit the country, as showcased by the significant contributions of nuclear power in countries such as France and Slovakia, where over 60% of electricity is derived from this clean source.
History
In the past, Nauru's history of electricity generation has seen a complete absence of low-carbon energy sources. Throughout the decades, there has been no recorded change in the adoption of clean power like nuclear, solar, or wind energy. The stagnation in transitioning from fossil-based power to low-carbon electricity is notable, as Nauru has not yet made any significant strides towards incorporating green energy solutions. As global efforts emphasize reducing carbon emissions, Nauru stands out as one of the few places without a low-carbon electricity history, highlighting an urgent need to invest in clean energy infrastructure and policies to align with environmental priorities.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.