Electricity in Seychelles in 2023
In 2023, electricity consumption in Seychelles is predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, which account for more than three-quarters of the energy mix—almost 86%, to be precise. In contrast, low-carbon or clean electricity sources make up a smaller segment, contributing around 14%. Among the low-carbon options, solar power is emerging as a significant player, generating close to 13% of the electricity, while wind energy contributes slightly less, at around 2%. This shows that while Seychelles is making strides towards using more environmentally friendly electricity, there is ample room for expansion to decrease the high dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate their negative impacts, such as climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Seychelles?
The question of whether electricity consumption is growing in Seychelles can be approached by examining the recent figures. In 2023, the total electricity consumed by each person was 4925 kWh, which is slightly less than the record-setting 4941 kWh/person in 2022, marking a minor decline of 16 kWh/person. Similarly, the generation of clean electricity per person also experienced a slight backward step, decreasing by 14 kWh/person to reach 704 kWh/person in 2023. The stagnation in both total and low-carbon electricity consumption is concerning, as continued growth in electricity, particularly clean electricity, is vital to meet increasing demand from advances in technology and electrification efforts.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Seychelles can consider expanding its solar infrastructure, given its already substantial contribution to the island's electricity. Learning from other regions could also be beneficial; Lebanon, for instance, generates 31% of its electricity from solar energy, offering a successful model of extensive solar implementation. Additionally, looking at nuclear-strong regions such as France and Slovakia, where nuclear electricity comprises 69% and 64% respectively, can highlight the advantages of adopting nuclear energy as part of a diverse low-carbon strategy. While Seychelles' geographic and economic conditions may differ, these examples show the potential of nuclear and solar power to grow sustainable electricity generation significantly.
History
Looking back at the history of low-carbon electricity in Seychelles, the data reveals a consistent yet stagnant pattern without significant changes or improvements in new capacity over the last decade. From 2013 to 2023, neither wind nor solar electricity generation experienced any noteworthy change in output, which shows missed opportunities to adapt and modernize the electricity infrastructure. This inertia in growth is concerning, highlighting the need for an aggressive push towards embracing new technologies and investments in clean electricity sectors to ensure Seychelles' future energy security and sustainability. The time is ripe for Seychelles to act decisively and bring about a dynamic transformation in its electricity landscape.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.