In 2024, the Dominican Republic predominantly relies on fossil fuels for its electricity consumption, with more than four-fifths (81%) of electricity generated from these sources. Of this, gas is a major contributor, accounting for nearly a third of the total electricity consumption, while coal makes up another third. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources, including solar, hydropower, and wind, make up a smaller portion at just under a fifth (19%) of the country's electricity mix. Solar energy contributes nearly 7%, making it the largest low-carbon source, closely followed by hydropower at almost 7% and wind energy at over 4%.
Is Electricity Growing in Dominican Republic?
The country's electricity consumption is on the rise, reflected in the latest figures of 2321 kWh per person, which represents an increase of 154 kWh per person from the previous year. This growth is a positive sign of increased access to electricity and possibly a transition to more electrified services. Importantly, low-carbon electricity generation has also shown a positive trend, with an increase from the previous year's 374 kWh per person to the current 432 kWh per person, an increase of 58 kWh. This highlights a growing effort to shift towards more sustainable and clean electricity sources.
Suggestions
To expand low-carbon electricity generation, the Dominican Republic could look to successful regions that have effectively harnessed solar, wind, and nuclear power. For instance, countries like Lebanon demonstrate the potential of solar energy, generating 31% of its electricity from this source. For wind energy, Uruguay and Denmark serve as inspirational models, with a significant portion of their electricity coming from wind. Although currently not present in the Dominican Republic, nuclear energy is embraced by regions such as France, where it accounts for a dominant share of the electricity mix. Emulating these efforts could allow the Dominican Republic to further enhance and diversify its clean electricity portfolio, ensuring a sustainable energy future.
History
The Dominican Republic's history with low-carbon electricity has been primarily focused on hydropower, which has seen its share of fluctuations over the decades. During the late 1970s to the late 1980s, the country experienced both positive strides and setbacks, with notable increases in hydropower in 1976, 1985, and 1993, amidst several declines in the intervening years. More recently, in 2017 and 2016, hydropower experienced positive growth, although it faced a setback in 2018 and 2019. In the past few years, solar energy has begun making a mark, with notable increases in 2022 and a further boost in 2024. This shift to embrace solar energy marks a bright spot in the country's low-carbon transition and underscores the potential for further expansion in clean electricity sources.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.