Electricity in Papua New Guinea in 2023
In 2023, Papua New Guinea relies significantly on fossil fuels for its electricity, with over 76% of its electricity consumption coming from these energy sources. Low-carbon or clean energy, which includes sources like hydropower and geothermal, contributes the remaining 24% of the electricity consumed. Within the low-carbon category, hydropower is the predominant source, supplying just over 21% of the country's electricity. Geothermal energy, though less prominent, adds a modest figure of about 2%. The reliance on gas for electricity sits at approximately 19%, pointing towards a heavy dependence on fossil fuels that underscores a major area of growth for cleaner energy solutions.
Suggestions
To decrease its reliance on fossil fuels and increase low-carbon electricity generation, Papua New Guinea could look towards leveraging its natural resources effectively. The nation may draw inspiration from countries successfully utilizing wind and solar power. For instance, Lebanon generates almost a third of its electricity from solar energy, while Uruguay, the Netherlands, and others have invested significantly in wind. Given its geographical similarities, Papua New Guinea could harness the significant potential of solar and wind energy infrastructure, especially given the declining costs and technological advances in these sectors. Moreover, Papua New Guinea could explore the feasibility of nuclear energy like many other countries such as France, Ukraine, and Slovakia, whose electricity from nuclear energy ranges between 55% and 68%. This strategy would diversify energy sources and significantly reduce carbon emissions, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
History
Historically, Papua New Guinea's low-carbon electricity generation has seen moderate yet varied growth. Beginning in the 1980s, hydropower began making incremental progress with periods of stagnation and slight reductions, like in 1987 and 1997-2017, which saw negative changes. The late 1990s marked the most significant increase, with 1995 notably adding 0.4 TWh. Geothermal energy began contributing in 2003, with a notable increase in 2005, before experiencing a decline in 2018. Despite these fluctuations, both hydropower and geothermal have maintained their presence, albeit with limited growth in capacity. This historical pattern suggests a critical need to accelerate the development of clean energy technologies to meet growing energy demands sustainably.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.