British Virgin Islands energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in the British Virgin Islands reached 170 GWh in 2023. The supply is entirely oil (100%).
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
Electricity generation by source in 2023
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 0.17 | 100% | 0 |
| Total | 0.17 | 100% |
British Virgin Islands: electricity in context
Electricity generation in the British Virgin Islands reached 170 GWh in 2023. That puts it in the same league as American Samoa. The supply is entirely oil (100%).
0% of the country’s power came from renewable sources. That is 34 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for North America (28.8%). Generating one kWh emits about 647 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). This is one of the more carbon-intensive grids in the world.
The biggest decline came from oil (−30 GWh). Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point).
Coal has essentially never been burned for electricity here: its share has stayed below 1% throughout the record.
Wind and solar have barely started in the British Virgin Islands: combined, they produce less than 1% of the power.
Generation per person is 4,358 kWh a year, 1.1× the world average of 3,860 kWh. The British Virgin Islands does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
How does British Virgin Islands compare?
British Virgin Islands next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Virgin Islands | 0% | 0% | 100% | 647 | 4,358 | 0.2 | — | |
| United States Virgin Islands | 2.9% | 2.9% | 97.1% | 632 | 7,934 | 0.7 | Compare | |
| Puerto Rico | 6.4% | 6.4% | 93.6% | 655 | 6,265 | 20.3 | Compare | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 8.1% | 8.1% | 91.9% | 595 | 3,945 | 0.4 | Compare | |
| Guadeloupe | 35.3% | 35.3% | 64.7% | 497 | 4,435 | 1.7 | Compare | |
| Martinique | 25.8% | 25.8% | 74.2% | 530 | 4,364 | 1.5 | Compare | |
| Saint Lucia | 2.5% | 2.5% | 97.5% | 650 | 2,225 | 0.4 | Compare | |
| North America average | 28.8% | 44.7% | 55.3% | 369 | 9,025 | 5,534 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in the British Virgin Islands is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in the British Virgin Islands?
How clean is the electricity in the British Virgin Islands?
How much electricity does the British Virgin Islands use per person?
More countries in North America
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2023. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.