In 2022, Réunion relied on fossil fuels for about two-thirds of its electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources supplied just over a third. Coal alone accounted for almost 28% of electricity. Among clean sources, hydropower contributed about 19%, solar 8%, and biofuels 7%. This leaves substantial scope to expand low-carbon electricity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, whose use contributes to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Réunion?

Electricity consumption per person in Réunion was below its historic peak in 2022: about 3,870 kWh, compared with 4,400 kWh in 2020—a decline of roughly 530 kWh, or 12%. These figures do not establish whether total electricity consumption grew, but they show that consumption per person had not regained its record. Encouragingly, low-carbon generation reached a new high of about 1,320 kWh per person, around 60 kWh above the previous record set in 2013. That clean-electricity progress is welcome, although stronger growth would help meet future demand from electrification and AI.

Suggestions

Réunion should prioritize expanding solar electricity, drawing lessons from sunny island regions such as the US state of Hawaii and Cyprus, where solar supplies about 23% of electricity—nearly three times Réunion’s share. Rooftop and larger solar installations, supported by storage and grid improvements, could help realize this opportunity. Wind also deserves consideration: Cape Verde generates about 14% of its electricity from wind, offering a relevant island comparison. Réunion should also consider nuclear electricity as part of its long-term clean-electricity planning, drawing on France’s expertise: nuclear supplies about two-thirds of French electricity. These examples demonstrate how solar, wind, and nuclear can support a much larger low-carbon electricity supply.

History

Réunion’s low-carbon electricity history shows recurring hydropower fluctuations alongside periods of diversification. During the 2000s, the listed annual hydropower changes alternated between gains and declines of about 0.1 TWh, while biofuel generation increased by 0.1 TWh in 2004. Solar then made welcome advances of 0.1 TWh in both 2010 and 2011. Through the early and middle 2010s, hydropower continued to fluctuate in increments of about 0.1 TWh. A larger hydropower gain of 0.2 TWh in 2018 coincided with a 0.1 TWh biofuel decline, followed by a 0.2 TWh hydropower decline in 2019. After another hydropower decrease in 2021, its strong 0.3 TWh rebound in 2022 was encouraging. Building sustained solar growth alongside other clean sources would help turn these uneven gains into lasting progress.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade