Over the past 12 months, from April 2025 to March 2026, Argentina's electricity consumption has been almost equally divided between fossil and low-carbon sources. More than half of the energy, specifically 51.09%, is generated from fossil fuels, with gas being the major contributor at 48.02%. On the clean energy front, a significant contribution comes from hydropower at 23.42%, followed by wind at 12.69%, nuclear at 7.12%, solar at 3.77%, and biofuels at 1.9%. While fossil fuels continue to play a dominant role, Argentina's substantial use of clean energy signifies progress towards a more sustainable electricity mix.

Is Electricity Growing in Argentina?

Despite these efforts, overall electricity consumption in Argentina is not growing, which is concerning. Recently, the country recorded an electricity consumption of 3246 kWh per person, a noticeable decline from its historic peak of 3570 kWh per person in 2016, reflecting a decrease of 325 kWh per person. Meanwhile, the latest figures for low-carbon electricity generation reveal a small increase, from 1573 kWh per person in 2025 to 1587 kWh per person in 2026. This growth in low-carbon electricity is a positive trend, and it’s critical that Argentina bolster this to offset its overall decline in consumption and foster a sustainable energy future.

Suggestions

For Argentina to enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, focusing on expanding wind energy is a viable strategy given its current substantial contribution to the country's electricity mix. Additionally, Argentina can draw lessons from several regions succeeding in low-carbon energy generation. Denmark and Iowa, generating 60% and 57% of their electricity from wind respectively, can serve as models. Similarly, leveraging nuclear energy, as seen in countries like France, which produces 67% of its electricity from nuclear power, could provide a stable and substantial clean energy source for Argentina. Investing in solar energy is also advisable, taking cues from Nevada and California, which generate 34% and 31% of their electricity from solar respectively. Such steps would significantly enhance Argentina’s low-carbon electricity capacity, supporting its sustainability goals.

History

In reviewing the history of low-carbon electricity in Argentina, hydropower has experienced fluctuations over the decades. Positive changes like in the early 1990s with increases of about 5 TWh were sometimes offset by declines in the late 1980s and early 2000s. The 2010s saw mixed outcomes, with notable growth such as the 3.5 TWh increase in wind in 2019. Most recently, in 2023, there was a remarkable rise in hydropower generation by 10.8 TWh, signifying strong growth. However, to be truly sustainable, Argentina must consistently expand its clean electricity sources, with substantial investments in wind, solar, and nuclear energy to ensure continued progress towards a green energy future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.