Electricity in Delaware in 2024/2025
Over the past 12 months, from June 2024 to May 2025, Delaware's electricity consumption has been heavily reliant on energy imports and fossil fuels. More than half of the state's electricity, about 58%, comes from net imports, highlighting a significant reliance on external energy sources. Fossil fuels make up close to 40% of the state's energy consumption, with gas contributing the majority at about 34%, followed by coal at a diminutive 3%. On the other hand, low-carbon electricity generation in Delaware is minimal, being a mere 2% of the total, with solar energy accounting for approximately 1.5%. Clearly, Delaware needs to prioritize building its internal low-carbon infrastructure to ensure energy security and sustainability.
Is Electricity Growing in Delaware?
In assessing whether Delaware's electricity consumption is growing, we see a concerning trend. The current total electricity consumption is around 11,371 kWh per person, marking a steep decline from the previous record in 2005, which was over 15,100 kWh per person. This decrease of nearly 3,745 kWh per person suggests a significant drop in electricity use, aligning with trends of efficiency but potentially indicating unmet demand. On a brighter note, low-carbon electricity generation has seen a modest increase, with the latest numbers at approximately 227 kWh per person, up by 7 kWh compared to the previous low-carbon record in 2024. Although these gains are encouraging, they are insufficient to match rising energy demands effectively or reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Delaware should look to examples of successful regions that utilize solar, wind, and nuclear power effectively. For instance, states like New Jersey and New Hampshire generate a substantial portion of their electricity from nuclear power, around 36% and 55% respectively, showcasing its potential as a consistent clean energy source. On the solar front, places such as Nevada and California utilize solar power for 29% and 20% of their energy needs, demonstrating scalable models of solar implementation even at a state level. By investing in solar and nuclear energy, Delaware can significantly ramp up its low-carbon electricity production, ensuring cleaner and more sustainable energy for its residents.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Delaware has been rather stagnant, particularly concerning solar energy, which started gaining ground only recently. Over the years, incremental trends can be observed, especially in biofuels, which saw a slight rise in 2008 but have remained flat since. Solar energy has only begun to emerge, with a small increase in 2023 by 0.1 TWh. This slow progress in solar energy might have picked up too late, considering the urgent need for a clean energy transition. Delaware should be proactive in creating and supporting policies that expand solar and nuclear power projects exponentially to catch up with both its energy security needs and climate commitments.