Electricity in Botswana in 2023
In 2023, Botswana's electricity consumption heavily leans on fossil fuels, with fossil energy accounting for over half of the total electricity production. Specifically, coal energy constitutes more than half of the fossil energy consumed, illustrating the country's significant reliance on this type of fuel. However, an interesting aspect is that Botswana also imports a substantial portion of its electricity, with almost 43% coming from net imports. Unfortunately, low-carbon electricity generation is almost nonexistent; solar and other clean energy sources contribute close to none of the total electricity consumption.
Is Electricity Growing in Botswana?
Electricity consumption in Botswana is not showing robust growth, and this is evident when looking at per capita consumption, which currently stands at 1818 kWh per person. This figure represents a decrease from the previous high in 2015 when consumption was at 2013 kWh per person. The stagnation is similarly noticeable in low-carbon electricity generation, which also remains unchanged since 2018 at a mere 4 kWh per person. This lack of progress in adopting clean energy and increasing overall electricity consumption is concerning given the growing global trends towards electrification and the pressing need to mitigate climate change impacts.
Suggestions
To make strides in increasing low-carbon electricity generation, Botswana could look towards countries like Lebanon and Greece, which have successfully integrated solar energy into their energy mix, achieving over 25% of electricity from solar power. On the wind energy front, regions such as Iowa and South Dakota demonstrate the potential of wind energy by generating over half of their electricity through this clean source. Botswana has the opportunity to leverage its abundant sunlight for solar power and can learn from these successful regions to diversify its energy sources with solar and wind as viable options. Investing more in nuclear energy can also be a game-changer, given the substantial percentages of electricity generation it accounts for in countries like France and Slovakia. By looking at these successful examples, Botswana can chart a clear path toward a sustainable and reliable low-carbon electricity future.
History
Historically, the evolution of low-carbon electricity in Botswana has been stagnant, especially when focusing on solar energy. From 2012 to 2023, there has been no recorded change in solar electricity generation, indicating a complete standstill in the growth of this clean energy type. The last decade did not witness any advances or initiatives that propelled an increase in solar output. This pattern underlines the need for vigorous action to foster growth in clean energy, requiring new policies and investments to equip the nation for future energy demands effectively. The persistence of this stagnation is a critical issue in the effort to transition to more sustainable forms of electricity.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.