Electricity in Seychelles in 2023
As of 2023, Seychelles relies heavily on fossil fuels for its electricity, with over 85% of its electricity generated from these sources. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels is a concern due to their contribution to air pollution and climate change. On the brighter side, about 14% of the electricity is generated from low-carbon sources, with solar energy contributing nearly 13% and wind adding a modest 2%. Despite being a smaller portion, this clean energy generation is a positive step toward sustainable electricity, emphasizing the potential for Seychelles to shift toward more environmentally friendly sources of power.
Is Electricity Growing in Seychelles?
Regarding electricity consumption, Seychelles has experienced a slight decline recently. The total electricity consumption per person in 2023 was about 4925 kWh, down by 16 kWh from its previous record in 2022. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation per person fell to 704 kWh from 717 kWh the previous year. These decreases, although small, are concerning in light of the growing need for sustainable energy solutions and increased electricity demand. While the numbers are not drastically lower, they indicate that Seychelles has room for improvement in both maintaining and expanding its electricity consumption, particularly from low-carbon sources.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Seychelles could expand its existing solar power infrastructure, which already plays a significant role in the country's clean electricity generation. Learning from other regions might also offer valuable insights. For instance, Lebanon has successfully harnessed solar energy, generating over 30% of its electricity from it. Similarly, Nevada, with 29% of its electricity coming from solar, demonstrates the potential of this technology in favorable climates. Seychelles can also look to countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear power comprises a substantial majority of electricity generation, illustrating the significant potential of nuclear energy in providing reliable and low-carbon electricity.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Seychelles has shown consistent but stagnant output from both wind and solar energy in recent years. From 2013 to 2023, there has been no recorded increase in electricity generation from wind energy, and since 2019, solar energy generation has also remained unchanged. This stagnation is concerning and indicates that while Seychelles had the initiative to introduce these clean energy sources, sustained growth and development in this sector have not yet been achieved. As electricity demands are expected to grow continuously, Seychelles' situation highlights the pressing need to revitalize its approach, particularly in expanding solar avenues and potentially exploring new investments in nuclear energy.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.