The Réunion Energy Observatory presented the 2024 Energy Balance, 2025 edition, at its Steering Council. 2024 marks a historic milestone with the end of coal and heavy fuel oil, a 92.4% renewable electricity mix and progress in demand management. Challenges remain, particularly in transport and the development of local energy sources.
2024: a symbolic year
2024 will remain a landmark year in Reunion Island’s energy history. For the first time, the island has definitively turned the page on coal and heavy fuel oil, two fossil fuels long used for electricity production.
This transition is reflected in an electricity mix made up of 92.4% renewable energy (local and imported), confirming the profound transformation under way for several years.
Local renewable energy: essential but still constrained
The share of local renewable energy now stands at 31.2%. It remains strategic for the island’s future and could grow through the development of new sectors suited to the context of Reunion Island: geothermal energy, offshore wind, onshore wind, solar PV and biomass.
However, development is still held back by various administrative, regulatory and technical difficulties. Solar PV, in particular, continues to grow thanks to the dynamism of residential installations and the support of schemes such as Région Kap PV and the national S24 scheme.
Managing consumption: a collective challenge
Electricity consumption, which is rising slightly, remains under control thanks to electricity demand management (MDE) actions. These schemes enable individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce their consumption and bills with efficient equipment such as solar water heaters, ceiling fans, thermal insulation and motorised management systems.
Transport: the major challenge of the coming years
While the electricity mix continues to change, the transport sector remains the great challenge of the energy transition. The rise of the electric car, the deployment of suitable charging infrastructure and consideration of new fuels for heavy vehicles will be decisive in reducing the island’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Conclusion
With a largely renewable electricity mix and the historic exit from coal and heavy fuel oil, Reunion Island is taking a new step towards energy autonomy. But the success of this trajectory will depend on the island’s ability to accelerate the development of local renewable energy and profoundly transform the transport sector.
