Electricity in Seychelles in 2023
In 2023, electricity in Seychelles predominantly depends on fossil sources, with more than four-fifths of its electricity generated from fossil fuels. The reliance on fossil energy significantly contributes to environmental challenges such as climate change and air pollution. Nonetheless, Seychelles has started to embrace low-carbon options, with around 14% of its electricity coming from clean energy. Solar energy is a key component within this low-carbon group, making up nearly 13% of the total electricity generation. Wind energy contributes a modest portion, only generating close to 2% of Seychelles' electricity. The current imbalance between fossil-based and low-carbon electricity highlights an urgent need for Seychelles to enhance its commitment to green energy.
Is Electricity Growing in Seychelles?
The recent figures on electricity consumption in Seychelles indicate a slight downward trend. The total electricity consumption per person in 2023 was approximately 4923 kWh, which is a minor decrease from the previous high of 4939 kWh per person recorded in 2022. This change resulted in a slight dip of 16 kWh per person. The low-carbon electricity generation has also seen a small decline, with each person accounting for around 703 kWh of low-carbon power in 2023, down from 717 kWh in the previous year. Despite these slight setbacks, it's crucial that Seychelles maintains and intensifies its investment and development of low-carbon energy to reverse this decline and ensure a sustainable energy future.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Seychelles should focus on expanding its solar energy output. Solar power is already a significant contributor and its expansion could significantly decrease reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, drawing inspiration from countries that have successfully increased their low-carbon energy share can be beneficial. For instance, countries like Lebanon, which generates a notable portion of 31% of its electricity from solar, demonstrate that solar energy can play a substantial role. Seychelles can aim to emulate this success by investing in solar infrastructure and policy enhancements that support sustainable solar energy growth.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Seychelles, particularly from 2013 to 2023, has been marked by stagnation in wind and solar contributions. Throughout this period, reported changes in electricity generated from wind and solar power have remained at zero, indicating a need for Seychelles to rethink its approach to green electricity expansion. By learning from other nations and prioritizing the growth of solar energy, Seychelles could better meet its electricity demands and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. As global technological and infrastructural advancements occur, it's imperative that Seychelles gets proactive about integrating more low-carbon energy, particularly solar, to foster a cleaner and sustainable electricity landscape.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.