WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao is generating approximately 40% of its electricity from renewable sources, marking significant progress toward the island's national target of at least 50% renewable electricity by 2035. However, the Regulatory Authority of Curaçao (RAC) says the milestone should be interpreted with caution because it represents only one aspect of the island's energy system.
According to the RAC, preliminary production data for the first five months of 2026 indicate that renewable electricity—primarily generated by wind and solar—accounts for around 40% of the island's electricity production mix. The figure reflects the proportion of electricity actually produced from renewable sources compared with electricity generated using fossil fuels.
The regulator emphasized that the percentage is based on actual electricity production rather than installed generation capacity. It also excludes electricity that households and businesses generate and consume themselves through rooftop solar systems, although electricity fed back into Aqualectra's grid is included in the calculation.
RAC explained that renewable electricity's share depends not only on the amount of wind and solar capacity installed, but also on how much electricity those facilities are able to generate. Wind production fluctuates with seasonal weather conditions, while solar output depends on daylight hours and cloud cover.
Whenever renewable electricity is available, it is given priority in the production mix. Conventional fossil-fuel generation is then used to supply the remaining electricity needed to meet demand across the island.
The authority noted that installed capacity and actual production are often confused.
Based on the latest published figures, Curaçao's wind farms have a combined installed capacity of 69 megawatts, while conventional power plants account for 151 megawatts. Registered solar photovoltaic installations add another 16.6 megawatts of capacity. Despite that infrastructure, renewable electricity represented only 21% of electricity production in 2024 because renewable output varies according to weather conditions rather than installed capacity alone.
The RAC stressed that electricity is only one part of Curaçao's broader energy sector, which also includes fuel distribution, drinking water production and supporting infrastructure. A more comprehensive overview of those sectors is provided in the Curaçao Energy Report 2024, while updated figures for 2025 are expected to be published in the next Energy Report during the final quarter of 2026.
Curaçao's National Energy Policy aims to increase the share of electricity generated from indigenous renewable resources to at least 50% by 2035 as part of broader efforts to improve energy security, sustainability and affordability while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.