As of 2023, Seychelles' electricity consumption remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with more than 85% of its electricity stemming from these sources. This leaves a significant gap in the country's transition towards more sustainable energy options. Low-carbon energy types like solar and wind contribute to just over 14% of the electricity supply, mostly dominated by solar energy, which provides almost 13%, while wind energy accounts for about 1.6%. This distribution clearly indicates that while Seychelles has taken steps toward incorporating clean energy into its electricity grid, there is still a considerable need for expansion to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and combat climate change.

Is Electricity Growing in Seychelles?

The growth of electricity in Seychelles has observed a minuscule decline in recent years. In 2023, electricity consumption was slightly lower compared to the previous year, recording a drop of about 16 kWh per person, settling at 4925 kWh/person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation decreased by 14 kWh per person, standing at 704 kWh/person. While these changes are marginal, they represent a stagnation in progress toward increasing electricity generation, particularly in the clean energy sector. Given the global push for more electrification and the anticipated energy demands of future technologies, it is vital for Seychelles to reverse this trend and pursue growth in electricity generation, especially from low-carbon sources.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Seychelles should focus on expanding its solar capacity, which is already a substantial part of its clean energy mix. Learning from successful regions, it is recommended for Seychelles to consider strategies used by states like California and countries such as Chile and Cyprus, which have solar energy contributing up to 35%, 24%, and 23% respectively of their electricity. Furthermore, while Seychelles lacks nuclear energy, exploring this option could provide a stable and significant increase in low-carbon energy, similar to the strategies employed by regions like France and South Carolina, where nuclear energy accounts for a major share of electricity generation. By following these examples, Seychelles can work towards a more diversified and sustainable electricity supply.

History

Historically, Seychelles has shown limited change in its low-carbon electricity generation in the past decade. From 2013 to 2023, both wind and solar energy have seen no significant shifts, indicating a standstill in the advancement of these technologies. This lack of change underscores the need for Seychelles to make more proactive investments in clean energy infrastructure. While previous years exhibited some stability, the absence of growth in electricity generation, particularly in solar and wind, points to missed opportunities to enhance the country’s energy sustainability. Seychelles needs to break this cycle of stagnation to ensure a more environmentally friendly and robust electricity grid in the future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade