Electricity in Bahamas in 2022
As of 2022, electricity consumption in the Bahamas is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with more than 99% of its electricity generated this way. This means that low-carbon energy sources, such as solar or potentially nuclear energy, make up close to none of the electricity mix. The absence of significant contributions from clean energy highlights an area of concern, particularly given global trends towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. The current energy strategy in the Bahamas emphasizes the need for diversification towards more sustainable options to improve energy resilience and environmental sustainability.
Is Electricity Growing in Bahamas?
Examining electricity consumption trends in the Bahamas over recent years reveals a worrying decline. In 2022, the per capita consumption of electricity stood at about 5157 kWh, which is substantially lower than the 2007 record of 6369 kWh per person. This decline of roughly 1211 kWh per person signals a potential stagnation or even contraction in energy demand or supply. Despite this overall decline, there has been a small but noteworthy increment in low-carbon electricity generation. From a low-carbon standpoint, the generation increased by 25 kWh per person from the 2020 figure. While this is a positive step, the growth is modest and indicates much room for improvement in transitioning towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, the Bahamas can draw valuable insights from global leaders such as France and Denmark. France's significant reliance on nuclear power, with close to 69% of its electricity coming from this source, demonstrates the potential of nuclear energy to offer abundant clean electricity. On the other hand, Denmark showcases the success of wind power, which accounts for around 57% of its electricity generation. Both nuclear and solar energies are highly suitable for the Bahamas given their ability to provide stable, low-carbon energy. Emulating such strategies could lead to a cleaner and more resilient energy future, reducing the dependency on fossil fuels and paving the way for improved environmental outcomes.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in the Bahamas depicts a stagnant trend, with no recorded changes in solar energy generation over the years 2020, 2021, and 2022. This steady state indicates a missed opportunity in capitalizing on advances in solar technology, which have become increasingly cost-effective and efficient. The lack of movement in solar electricity initiative alarms not just for unutilized potential in increasing the nation's renewable footprint, but also for the repercussions of continued reliance on fossil fuels on environmental health and energy security. There is an imperative need for a robust transition toward more sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions to catalyze these opportunities fully.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.