In 2023, Seychelles relied on fossil fuels for about 86% of its electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources supplied roughly 14%, or one-seventh. Solar provided almost 13% of electricity and wind about 2%, making solar the main source of clean electricity. Expanding low-carbon generation would help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and their associated climate impacts and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Seychelles?

Electricity consumption per person was essentially flat in 2023, slipping to 4,925 kWh from the 2022 record of 4,941 kWh—a decline of just 16 kWh per person. Low-carbon electricity generation also fell slightly, reaching 704 kWh per person compared with the previous record of 717 kWh in 2022, a decrease of about 14 kWh using the supplied change figure. These small declines indicate stalled progress rather than electricity growth, highlighting the need to accelerate clean generation to support future electrification and rising electricity demand.

Suggestions

Seychelles can build on its existing solar contribution by expanding rooftop and other suitable solar installations, supported by electricity storage and grid upgrades. Relevant examples include the island country of Cyprus and the US state of Hawaii, where solar supplies about 23% of electricity—considerably more than Seychelles’ 13%. Cape Verde, another island country, generates about 14% of its electricity from wind, offering a useful example for exploring additional wind generation. Seychelles should also consider nuclear electricity within its long-term planning, including assessing emerging small-reactor options suited to its electricity system. France, where nuclear supplies about two-thirds of electricity, demonstrates the substantial contribution this clean source can make, although Seychelles would need an approach tailored to its much smaller grid.

History

The supplied historical figures show no measurable year-to-year changes at the reported precision: wind generation changes were recorded as 0 TWh throughout 2013–2018, and solar changes were recorded as 0 TWh throughout 2019–2023. Wind changes were also recorded as zero during 2020–2023. Because these figures are rounded in TWh, they do not establish that generation was absent or completely unchanged; smaller increases or decreases may be hidden by rounding. The record therefore does not reveal substantial low-carbon growth at this scale, underscoring the value of more detailed data and a stronger expansion of clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade