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

Is Electricity Growing in Seychelles?

Electricity consumption per person was essentially flat in 2023, slipping slightly from the 2022 record. It reached about 4,925 kWh per person, compared with 4,941 kWh the previous year—a decrease of just 16 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation also edged down, from about 717 to 704 kWh per person, roughly 14 kWh below its previous record using the supplied change figure. This small setback highlights the need for renewed growth in clean electricity to support electrification and future demand; these per-person figures alone do not establish whether total electricity consumption grew.

Suggestions

Seychelles should build on its existing solar contribution by expanding rooftop and other suitable solar installations, supported by storage and grid improvements. Island regions offer useful examples: Cyprus and the US state of Hawaii each generate about 23% of their electricity from solar, considerably more than Seychelles. Cape Verde, another island nation, generates about 14% from wind, offering a relevant example for assessing further wind development. Seychelles should also consider the potential role of nuclear electricity in its long-term planning, including assessing technologies suited to its electricity system. France, where nuclear supplies about two-thirds of electricity, demonstrates how nuclear can underpin a predominantly low-carbon electricity supply.

History

The historical data show no changes large enough to register at the reported precision: every listed annual change is 0 TWh. Wind entries show this pattern throughout 2013–2018 and again during 2020–2023, while solar entries do so throughout 2019–2023. These rounded figures do not mean that solar and wind generated no electricity or that their output never changed; rather, they are too coarse to reveal smaller developments in Seychelles’ electricity system. The 2023 shares nevertheless confirm that solar has become its leading low-carbon electricity source, providing a foundation for further clean growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade