In 2022, St. Kitts & Nevis relied on fossil fuels for about 95% of its electricity consumption, while low-carbon electricity supplied just under 5%. Wind accounted for all of that clean electricity. This leaves substantial scope to expand low-carbon generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, whose use contributes to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in St. Kitts & Nevis?

Electricity consumption per person remained below its historical peak rather than setting a new record. In 2022, it stood at about 4,700 kWh per person, roughly 190 kWh, or 4%, below the 2019 record of about 4,900 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation was unchanged from its 2021 record, at 214 kWh per person. These figures show a disappointing lack of clean electricity growth, although they do not establish whether total national electricity consumption increased or decreased. Expanding clean generation would help meet future demand from electrification and digital services.

Suggestions

St. Kitts & Nevis could prioritize solar expansion while building on its existing wind generation. Relevant island examples include the US state of Hawaii, where solar supplies 23% of electricity, Cyprus at 24%, and Cape Verde at 14%; the Dominican Republic also offers a Caribbean reference, with solar providing 10%. Rooftop installations, larger solar projects, storage, and grid improvements could support a higher clean electricity share. Denmark, with 58% of electricity generated by wind, demonstrates the potential for substantial wind deployment. Nuclear should also be considered as a longer-term clean electricity option, including evaluating smaller reactor designs and regional cooperation where appropriate. France and Slovakia, which generate roughly two-thirds of their electricity from nuclear, illustrate its contribution to a strongly low-carbon electricity supply, although their systems differ greatly in scale from St. Kitts & Nevis.

History

The supplied historical figures show no reported year-to-year change in wind electricity generation during 2012–2016 or 2018–2022: every listed change is zero TWh. This indicates a prolonged period without recorded expansion at the precision provided, rather than an absence of wind generation. No figure is supplied for 2017, so that year cannot be assessed from this series. Overall, the record highlights the need for renewed momentum in clean electricity development, particularly solar and additional wind generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade