Wind power
The five countries with the cleanest grids in the world
Seetao 2024-05-14 11:22
  • The countries with the highest proportion of renewable power generation are all rich in natural resources
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Countries around the world are racing to decarbonize to achieve a green transition. Some governments have developed national policies to encourage a shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable alternatives to meet the climate commitments of the Paris Agreement. However, some people are more successful at transformation than others. The countries with the highest proportion of renewable power generation are all rich in natural resources such as geothermal, hydro and wind, and most have relatively small power grids.

As governments increase funding to accelerate states' green transitions, the countries with the highest proportion of renewable power generation are in flux. In addition, some countries are producing higher levels of renewable energy, contributing to a larger grid. The countries with the cleanest grids in 2023 are Paraguay, Bhutan, Lesotho, Nepal, Ethiopia, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Albania, showing that the green transition is not concentrated in any one region of the world.

5) Ethiopia: 98.1%

Located in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia generates most of its electricity from renewable sources, including hydropower, biomass, solar, wind and geothermal energy. Ethiopia is Africa's largest producer of hydropower, which accounts for about three-quarters of the country's electricity. The Omo-Giber River basin provides about 45% of its hydropower through three major DAMS. Ethiopia has become increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change in recent years, as a prolonged drought has adversely affected its hydropower production.

Ethiopia has the potential to generate more than 60,000 megawatts of electricity from hydropower, wind, solar and geothermal sources. Due to a lack of investment in the past, Ethiopia has struggled to harness its natural energy resources. Currently, it has 5,200 megawatts of installed power generation capacity, which the government plans to increase to 17,000 megawatts over the next decade, but there are fears that demand could outstrip supply as the economy and population continue to grow.

4) Nepal: 98.4%

The vast majority of Nepal's electricity comes from hydropower, about 97 percent. This is thanks to Nepal's abundant natural resources, including mountains, glaciers and rivers that provide downflowing water for hydroelectric power. Nepal has a hydropower capacity of about 2,200 MW and has the potential to produce about 50,000 MW of hydropower, which would make it one of the largest hydropower producers in the world.

In recent years, the South Asian country, heavily backed by Chinese investment, has significantly increased its access to electricity for the population, from 19 percent in 2000 to 94 percent in 2023.

Nepal continues to rely heavily on biofuels and waste, with about 21 million people continuing to use traditional biofuels for cooking. In 2021, biofuels and waste accounted for about 67.2% of Nepal's energy mix.

3) Lesotho: 99.3%

Lesotho, in southern Africa, gets most of its electricity from hydroelectric sources, with solar and wind providing small amounts, and rural areas also relying on biomass for their cooking and heating needs. It is one of the smallest power grids in the world, with a capacity of only 73 megawatts.

About 72 MW of the country's hydropower comes from the Muera hydropower Station. The government has approved the development of the Polihali Dam, which is expected to be operational in 2028 and will add 8 megawatts of hydropower to the grid. Only about 47% of households in Lesotho have access to electricity, mostly in the country's urban centres. The government previously announced a plan to extend this coverage to 75 percent of households by 2022, but it has yet to materialize.

2) Bhutan: 99.8%

Bhutan in South Asia also gets most of its electricity from hydropower, which accounts for about 99.7%. Its vast forests have helped the small Asian country achieve net zero carbon emissions, placing it alongside Suriname and Panama as one of the world's three carbon-negative countries.

In April 2024, the European Investment Bank announced plans to lend Bhutan $160.2 million to help the country develop its renewable energy sector, including solar and hydropower projects in remote areas. The development of Bhutan's solar industry will help the country avoid spending on energy imports during the dry months of the year and support energy diversification.

1) Paraguay: 100%

Paraguay has the cleanest power grid in the world, achieving 100% clean electricity supply by the end of 2021. Hydropower accounts for 100 percent of the South American country's electricity supply, generating about 9 gigawatts of hydropower per year, making it the third largest hydropower producer in the world. Much of that power comes from the Itaipu Dam, which contributes 70 percent of the country's electricity supply and energy exports to neighboring Brazil.

Although Paraguay has achieved 100% clean energy production, it still plans to diversify its renewable energy mix. Earlier this year, the government passed a law on unconventional renewable energy to regulate the promotion, generation, production, development and use of electric energy from non-traditional renewable energy sources other than hydropower. Claudia Centurion, Minister of Public Works, said: "With regulation, we can involve the private sector in the development of this generation of electrical energy, taking huge steps towards innovation and promoting new industries that will bring us jobs and, above all, greater sustainability." Editor/Xu Shengpeng


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