Electricity in Trinidad & Tobago in 2023

In 2023, Trinidad & Tobago's electricity generation was predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, with an overwhelming 99.94% sourced from these high-carbon, pollution-intensive energy types. This leaves the proportion of low-carbon electricity generation, such as solar, wind, and nuclear, at almost zero. The reliance on fossil fuels poses significant environmental challenges, including high carbon emissions contributing to climate change and air pollution. The dominance of fossil energy highlights an urgent need for diversification towards more sustainable and clean energy sources to improve environmental outcomes and energy security.

Suggestions

Trinidad & Tobago can look to several successful countries for inspiration on increasing low-carbon electricity generation. France, for example, generates almost two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear energy, a clear indication of the viability and efficiency of this pre-eminent low-carbon source. Similarly, Denmark leads by generating over half of its electricity from wind power. Neighboring Uruguay, albeit smaller and with different resources, produces 35% of its electricity from wind. These success stories underline the potential for nuclear, wind, and to a lesser extent, solar energy to significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By investing in and adopting similar technologies, Trinidad & Tobago can diversify its energy mix and substantially cut carbon emissions.

History

Historically, Trinidad & Tobago has seen negligible changes in its low-carbon electricity generation. Since 1991, there have been consistent records of zero additional electrical output from biofuels and solar energy. From the early 1990s through to 2023, there have been no increments in either biofuels or solar electricity generation. Additionally, 2023 saw no introduction of wind energy into the mix. This historical stagnation in low-carbon energy development underscores the critical need for strategic investments and policy shifts to integrate more sustainable energy sources into the country's electricity grid. Exploring the potentials of nuclear, wind, and solar energy becomes imperative for the nation's green energy transition.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources