The Energy Transition in Haiti

Haiti’s energy transition faces significant structural and economic challenges but remains a key component of national development strategies aimed at improving energy access, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and enhancing climate resilience. The country’s energy mix is overwhelmingly reliant on imported petroleum products, with limited domestic generation capacity and one of the lowest electrification rates in the Western Hemisphere. Small-scale hydropower, solar PV, and emerging microgrid projects form the core of renewable initiatives, supported by international development agencies and non-governmental organisations. The Haiti Energy Sector Development Plan emphasises rural electrification, distributed renewables, and investment in grid rehabilitation. There is no domestic production of critical minerals, with full reliance on imports for materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements essential for renewable technologies and energy storage. Challenges include political instability, weak regulatory frameworks, hurricane exposure, and financing gaps, all of which hinder large-scale energy infrastructure development. However, opportunities lie in decentralised renewable solutions, international climate finance, and regional cooperation through CARICOM and the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE). Haiti’s long-term energy transition potential rests on building resilient systems, fostering local capacity, and leveraging global support to strengthen energy security and sustainable development.