How did Reunion Island get its energy?

Whereas in the 1980s all of the energy produced on Reunion Island came from renewable hydroelectricity, the island gradually bechas ome dependent on imported fossil fuels.

Can Reunion Island make its electricity 100% renewable?

Reunion Island's plan for making its electricity system 100% renewable involved a multi-fold process. This ambition was established in the law "Grenelle 1" No. 2009–967, whereby the French Ministry of Ecology mandated in April 2009 that all new constructions in overseas departments must install solar water heating.

How can Reunion Island achieve energy autonomy?

Reunion Island aims to achieve energy autonomy and a 100% renewable electricity mix by 2030. Without policy support, the share of renewables remains at the 2008 reference level. The development of biomass, particularly energy cane, is economically interesting. Solar and marine energy need political and/or economic support to be developed.

Is biomass a viable energy source for Reunion Island?

The development of biomass on Reunion Island is economically more viable. By 2030 in the transition scenarios, electricity from biomass has advantageously replaced electricity from coal and represents slightly more than 50% of electricity generation.

Will switching to renewables solve Réunion's self-sufficiency problem?

Although laudable, switching to renewables will not solve the self-sufficiency problem. The renewable sources Réunion uses to generate electricity will still be mainly imported from abroad. “Forests will be cut in Canada to put in our furnaces in Réunion island,” says Mathieu David, who studies mechanics and energy at the University of La Réunion.

Can geothermal energy be developed on Reunion Island?

Geothermal energy also presents significant potential for development, with an installed capacity of 30 MW; however, the main problem for this resource on Reunion Island is its location in a protected natural area.