Electricity in Seychelles in 2021

In 2021, the Seychelles heavily depended on fossil fuels for their electricity consumption, with almost 88% of their energy coming from this source. The remaining margin of electricity, a little over 12%, was produced using low-carbon technologies. Solar energy contributed almost 11% to the electricity generation, indicative of relatively significant use of solar technologies in the Seychelles. Wind energy, on the other hand, provided a marginal contribution, generating about 1.5% of the island's electricity.

Suggestions

Looking at electricity generation strategies worldwide, there are several countries from which Seychelles could take cues to enhance their low-carbon electricity generation. The current reliance on solar energy indicates potential for expansion in this area. Furthermore, countries with similar geographic conditions such as Denmark and Uruguay, where wind energy corresponds to 59% and 40% of their electricity respectively, could serve as inspiration for Seychelles to increase its wind energy output. Additionally, although not directly comparable due to demographic and economic differences, the success of nuclear energy in countries like France, Slovakia and Ukraine, generating 66%, 61% and 58% of their electricity respectively, could provide valuable insights into the potential of nuclear as a low-carbon energy source.

History

Historically, Seychelles' low-carbon energy journey has been limited and relatively recent. The data suggests that there was virtually no significant wind energy generation until 2021. Although it’s clear that wind energy's role remained marginal during this period, the initiation of wind energy production was at least a step towards diversifying the low-carbon energy mix. On the other hand, solar energy established its presence slightly earlier, with the data showing no significant change in its contribution from 2019 through 2021. This indicates that while solar became part of the Seychelles’ energy scene earlier, its expansion has been lacking initiative and urgency. This further underlines the need for Seychelles to step-up its efforts in low-carbon electricity generation, especially by expanding solar energy generation and possibly exploring other avenues like wind and nuclear energy.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources