Can solar energy be used effectively in Haiti?

Solar energy can be used effectively in Haiti, offering energy self-sufficiency to the most isolated cities in the absence of a power grid. The country’s location in the tropics gives it very strong solar energy potential. It is believed that solar energy will play a fundamental role in access to electricity over the next 10 to 15 years.

Why is Haiti struggling to modernise its energy sector?

Haiti’s recent battles to modernise its energy sector serve as a stark lesson for how fraught the business of energy transition can be. In the wake of the scandal, the struggle to provide Haiti’s 11 million people with reliable energy – and the desire to attract foreign investment to do so – has taken on an evermore politically charged hue.

Can private investment help solve Haiti's energy crisis?

“We have had this energy crisis for a long time, more than 20 years,” says Evenson Calixte, managing director of Haiti’s Autorité Nationale de Régulation du Secteur de l’Energie (ANARSE), the nation’s energy regulatory authority. “And we believe that one element that can help reform this sector is private investment.”

What challenges does Haiti face in generating and distributing electricity?

Haiti faces significant challenges in generating and distributing electricity reliably\. The lack of access to affordable and reliable power significantly hinders investment and business development. The majority of electricity is produced using imported fossil fuels.

How long does a power outage last in Haiti?

Power outages in some areas of the country can last for weeks, while in neighbourhoods near Haiti’s National Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince – always politically restive – jerry-rigged siphoning of current has gone on for decades as successive governments dare not act against it.

How much power does Haiti have reliably?

Haiti has an installed capacity of 250 to 400 Megawatts (MW) but only 60 percent of it is reliable. Many generation units and grid elements need rehabilitation and repair work. The distribution network has not been rehabilitated for more than 40 years.