In 2023, the electricity consumption landscape in Samoa shows a preference for fossil energy, with these sources accounting for 60% of the total electricity generation. The remaining 40% is derived from low-carbon sources, which encompass a combination of hydropower, solar, and biofuels. Hydropower leads the low-carbon category, contributing around 20%, followed by solar energy, which holds a share of approximately 13.33%, and biofuels contributing close to 6.67%. Despite efforts to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, the current state of electricity consumption shows that low-carbon sources still constitute less than half at present, underscoring the opportunity for further expansion and efficiency improvements in these green energy sectors.
Is Electricity Growing in Samoa?
Samoa is currently experiencing a decline in electricity consumption per capita. The latest data for 2023 indicates that electricity consumption is 692 kWh per person, which represents a significant reduction of 157 kWh per person compared to the 2020 record of 849 kWh per person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation has decreased, with the current figures showing 277 kWh per person, down from the 2021 high of 374 kWh per person. This trend of declining consumption and generation is concerning, as it may hinder economic growth and the country’s sustainable energy transition, highlighting the need for renewed focus and investment in the expansion of low-carbon energy.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation in Samoa, expanding the solar energy sector can be a strategic approach, given its existing contribution to the electricity mix. Solar energy holds immense potential due to Samoa’s abundant sunlight, and further investment in this sector could significantly reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, looking at successful countries like Lebanon, which generates 31% of its electricity from solar, provides useful insights for future development. Samoa could draw lessons from these models to effectively scale up its solar capabilities and ensure a stable and sustainable energy future, which would not only cater to growing energy demands but also support global climate goals.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Samoa reveals a stable yet slow-paced development, particularly in the hydropower sector, which has seen no significant change in generation capacity from 2001 through 2023. In the mid-2010s, solar power started to be a part of Samoa's energy mix, although it too has not experienced significant changes in production since its initial introduction in 2015. Similarly, biofuels were integrated in 2021 without notable increments afterward. The stable nature of Samoa’s low-carbon electricity generation highlights an urgent need to embrace advanced low-carbon technologies like solar, which are increasingly becoming more efficient and cost-effective while simultaneously addressing the waning per capita electricity consumption. This past stagnation should be a clarion call to intensify efforts in transforming Samoa’s energy landscape into a greener and more sustainable one.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.