Electricity in Réunion in 2021

In 2021, Réunion's electricity consumption was significantly reliant on fossil energy, with 2.22 TWh attributed to fossil fuels. When considering the global average of 432 watts per person, the island's electricity generation appears substantially lower, suggesting possible shortages or a heavy dependency on imported energy. The low levels of electricity generation could hinder economic development, lead to higher energy costs, and negatively impact residents' quality of life. To ensure sustainable development, it is crucial that Réunion increases its low-carbon, or clean, energy production. This can mitigate adverse environmental effects, such as climate change and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Suggestions

To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Réunion can draw lessons from countries with successful clean energy transitions. For instance, the People's Republic of China has made significant strides in wind and solar energy, producing 886 TWh from wind and 584 TWh from solar. These impressive figures indicate the viability of large-scale investments in these technologies. France, with 336 TWh of nuclear-generated electricity, demonstrates the potential for nuclear energy to serve as a stable base load power source. Similarly, the United States has made substantial advancements in wind (425 TWh) and solar (238 TWh), highlighting the scalability of these technologies even in different geographic and economic conditions. For Réunion, which shares some characteristics like climate and geographical constraints with regions successfully utilizing solar and wind, these examples offer a clear pathway to enhancing its clean energy portfolio.

History

Historically, Réunion has seen modest but incremental growth in low-carbon electricity generation. In the early 2000s, biofuels and hydro showed mixed trends, with hydro oscillating between rises and declines, notably a drop of 0.1 TWh in 2001, followed by a 0.1 TWh rise in 2002. Solar energy started to make its mark around 2010 with a consistent increase. Biofuels showed a mixed pattern, with rises in 2004 and 2019 balanced by declines in 2018. Between 2006 and 2015, hydroelectric generation saw several small increases and decreases. In 2018, hydro registered a noticeable increase of 0.2 TWh, though it experienced a decline again in 2019 by the same margin. These fluctuations underline the need for a more stable and scalable approach—like wind, solar, and nuclear—to ensure reliable and continuous low-carbon energy production for Réunion's future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources