In 2025, electricity consumption in Trinidad & Tobago remained overwhelmingly dependent on fossil fuels, which supplied about 99% of the total. Low-carbon electricity accounted for just 1.5%, entirely from solar. Clean electricity therefore has substantial room to grow, helping reduce the climate impacts and air pollution associated with fossil-fuel electricity generation.

Is Electricity Growing in Trinidad & Tobago?

Electricity consumption per person has not regained its historic peak. In 2025, it stood at about 6,460 kWh per person, roughly 745 kWh, or 10%, below the 2015 record of about 7,210 kWh. This shortfall is concerning as electrification and AI create additional electricity needs, although comparison with a record alone does not establish the latest annual trend. Low-carbon electricity generation, however, reached a new high of 97 kWh per person—almost three times the previous record of 35 kWh in 1971. That is encouraging progress, even though clean electricity still supplies only a small share.

Suggestions

Trinidad & Tobago can build on this progress by expanding solar installations on rooftops and at utility scale, while developing wind projects where local resources are suitable. Island regions offer useful examples: solar supplies about 23% of electricity in Cyprus and the US state of Hawaii, while Cape Verde generates about 14% from solar and another 14% from wind. Their experience can inform project development and electricity-grid planning. Nuclear should also be considered as part of a long-term clean electricity strategy. France generates about two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear, while the United Arab Emirates—a fellow oil-and-gas-producing economy—generates about one-fifth. These examples demonstrate how solar, wind and nuclear can support a much larger low-carbon electricity supply.

History

The reported history shows a long period of little change followed by a recent solar increase. Biofuel electricity generation recorded no year-on-year change in the listed years from 1991–1997 and 2000–2009; these figures indicate unchanged output, not necessarily zero generation. Solar likewise recorded no change in the listed entries for 2019 and 2024, before increasing by 0.1 TWh in 2025. That recent gain marks a welcome departure from the stagnation shown in the earlier records and provides a foundation for sustained clean electricity growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade