From August 2025 through July 2026, fossil fuels supplied more than half of Argentina’s electricity consumption, at about 55%, while low-carbon sources provided roughly 45%. Gas dominated the mix at around 52%, with oil and coal contributing about 2% and 1%, respectively. Among clean electricity sources, hydropower supplied about 19%, wind nearly 13%, nuclear 7%, solar 4%, and biofuels almost 2%. Argentina therefore has a substantial low-carbon electricity base, but fossil fuels still account for the majority, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Argentina?

Argentina’s latest figures do not show growth relative to its historical peaks, although they do not establish the direction of the most recent year-on-year change. Electricity consumption in 2026 stood at about 3,200 kWh per person, around 380 kWh—or 11%—below the 2016 record of 3,570 kWh per person. Low-carbon electricity generation reached about 1,425 kWh per person, roughly 100 kWh, or 6%, below its 2024 record. These shortfalls are concerning: Argentina needs stronger growth in clean electricity to support electrification and future demand, including that from AI.

Suggestions

Argentina can increase low-carbon electricity generation by expanding its established wind sector while accelerating solar deployment and expanding nuclear generation. Nearby Uruguay, where wind supplies 33% of electricity, offers a particularly relevant regional example; the US state of Iowa, at 57%, also demonstrates wind’s potential for a much larger contribution. For solar, neighboring Chile generates 24% of its electricity from this source, while Spain reaches 23%, providing useful examples for Argentina’s expansion beyond its current 4%. Nuclear should also play a larger role: France generates 67% of its electricity from nuclear, demonstrating the scale this clean source can achieve. Investment in transmission alongside these technologies would help Argentina increase clean electricity supply and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

History

Argentina’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is marked mainly by substantial fluctuations in hydropower. Hydro generation rose by 4.5 TWh in 1980 but fell by 6.8 TWh in 1988. The 1990s brought gains of roughly 5 TWh in 1990, 1993, and 1997, interspersed with declines of about 4–5 TWh in 1996 and 1999. Strong increases followed in 2000 and 2001, totaling more than 15 TWh, with further gains in 2005–2006 before a 6.5 TWh setback in 2007 and a partial recovery in 2009. Hydro added 3.6 TWh in 2013 but lost 5.3 TWh in 2019. Wind then delivered an encouraging 4.4 TWh increase in 2020. Hydro fell again in 2021, rebounded in 2022–2023—including a striking 10.8 TWh increase in 2023—and declined by 7.3 TWh in 2025. This uneven trajectory reinforces the importance of sustained expansion across wind, solar, and nuclear to secure broader growth in clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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