Electricity in Togo in 2021
In 2021, Togo's total electricity consumption per person came to a mere 19 watts, a tiny amount compared to the global average of 412 watts per person. The significant majority of this consumption, over half, was powered by fossil fuels at 6 watts per person. In a move towards cleaner energy, some of Togo's electricity was generated from low-carbon sources. However, this only resulted in 2 watts per person, from which almost all came from hydropower. Finally, solar energy, a renewable and environmentally friendly source, stood at a small 0.26 watts per person. Such muted figures mean that Togo heavily depends on electricity imports, which forms more than 56 percent of its consumption. The lack of substantial electricity generation could hamper progress in certain sectors, stunting economic growth, and frustrating efforts to improve living standards.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Togo can look at countries similar to its own that have had success in this realm. Uruguay, another small country, has had noticeable success with wind power, generating 160 watts per person. Solar energy, a hugely scalable resource, has also been exploited effectively by countries like Australia and Chile, generating 147 and 85 watts per person, respectively. Nuclear energy, while a more technologically demanding solution, has proved effective in small nations like Slovenia and Slovakia. They generate around 301 and 333 watts per person respectively, so it might be another viable option for Togo to explore depending on resources and capacity. The key takeaway for Togo is that investing in low-carbon energy infrastructure can yield significant dividends in the long run, both in terms of energy independence and environmental impact.
History
Historically, Togo has relied almost entirely on hydropower for its low-carbon electricity generation. The 1990s saw a fluctuating pattern of small increases and decreases in hydropower production, with changes frequently hovering around 0.1 terawatt-hours (TWh). This pattern continued into the early 2000s and beyond, though punctuated by periods of stability such as between 2001 and 2004. Most recently, from 2016 to 2020, Togo's hydropower generation oscillated around the same range, indicating a lack of substantial development in this area. An exception to this pattern was in 2019, with an increase of 0.2 TWh. Despite these small variations, there was no significant decline in hydroelectric power throughout these years. Nonetheless, the lack of development in other low-carbon electricity sources over the years suggests a missed opportunity for diversifying Togo's energy mix.