In 2023, Turks & Caicos Islands relied entirely on fossil fuels for its electricity: fossil sources supplied 100% of consumption, while low-carbon sources contributed none in the supplied data. This leaves a clear opportunity to introduce clean electricity, particularly solar, and reduce the climate-changing emissions and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Turks & Caicos Islands?

Electricity consumption per person was below its historical peak, rather than setting a new record. In 2023, it reached about 5,600 kWh per person, compared with almost 7,300 kWh in 2017—a decline of roughly 1,600 kWh, or 23%. These figures do not establish whether consumption rose or fell in the latest year, but the gap from the peak warrants attention as electrification increases future electricity needs. Low-carbon generation remained at zero kWh per person, unchanged from the reported record in 2000, showing no progress on clean electricity in these benchmarks.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Turks & Caicos Islands should prioritize solar installations on rooftops and suitable land, supported by storage and grid improvements. Relevant island examples include the US state of Hawaii and Cyprus, where solar supplies about 23% of electricity, and Samoa, where it supplies 13%. Cape Verde offers another useful island comparison, generating about 14% of its electricity from solar and another 14% from wind; local wind assessments could identify opportunities for a similarly complementary mix. Nuclear should also be considered through a feasibility assessment suited to the islands’ electricity system. France, with about two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear, and the US state of South Carolina, with more than half, demonstrate nuclear’s potential to provide substantial clean electricity, although their shares are examples rather than directly transferable targets.

History

The supplied historical information is limited: no year-by-year changes in low-carbon electricity generation were included. The available benchmarks report zero low-carbon generation per person in both 2000 and 2023, so there is no documented improvement between those reference points. They do not establish what happened in every intervening year, nor support a detailed account of individual technologies. What they do show is a disappointing absence of recorded clean electricity progress at the endpoints—and a strong reason to begin building a low-carbon electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade