Renewable Energy in French Guiana: Prospects towards a Sustainable Development Scenario
Résumé
Faced with the growing challenges of global warming, the deployment of renewable energy appears to be a necessary condition to achieve sustainable development. Having a crucial role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, they can also contribute to ensure universal access to modern energy services. French Guiana as a French overseas territory is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. It is a two-tier society where there is a large gap between the coastal and the inland areas concerning energy access. Compared to the coastline, the household electrification rate in the rural areas remains lower. In addition, the expected demographic growth and the aging of production means raise profound questions about how sustainably meet projected energy demand. According to the French Energy Transition for Green Growth Act, the main objective is to develop renewable and clean energy in order to achieve energy self-sufficiency for the entire territory. Due to its favorable location offering a wide range of potential renewable sources, French Guiana is a good candidate for developing efficient and environmentally-friendly renewable generation projects. However, there are still many barriers to overcome in order to facilitate investments in this risky field. This paper aims to make an inventory of the energy situation in French Guiana, identify the challenges restricting the widespread use of renewable energy and propose some recommendations towards a sustainable development.