Electricity in Argentina in 2023

The current state of electricity consumption in Argentina shows a dominance of fossil fuels in its energy mix. With a total of 80.14 TWh of fossil energy, it is predominantly sourced from gas, which accounts for 66.05 TWh. Other significant fossil energy sources include oil and coal, contributing 12.94 TWh and 1.15 TWh respectively. Argentina's low-carbon energy consumption is visibly lower, with a total of 50.47 TWh. Hydropower leads with 21.72 TWh, followed by wind at 14.33 TWh, nuclear at 9.01 TWh, solar at 3.24 TWh, and biofuels at 2.16 TWh. Although the country's electricity consumption from low-carbon sources is significant, it's quite under the global average of 410 watts per person, suggesting that Argentina has room for improvement in terms of energy sustainability. Lower levels of electricity generation could potentially lead to a slower economic growth and a higher carbon footprint.

Suggestions

One approach for Argentina to boost its low-carbon electricity generation is by investing further in wind technologies. Current data shows that wind already has a considerable share in Argentina's low-carbon energy mix. Learning from other nations could significantly inform Argentina's approach to expanding their low-carbon electricity generation. For instance, the People's Republic of China and the United States have substantial electricity generation from wind, with 964 TWh and 425 TWh respectively. Likewise, Brazil has succeeded in producing a commendable 94 TWh from wind. Such outcomes demonstrate that countries at varying stages of development have successfully incorporated substantial wind energy into their electrical grid.

History

Looking at the history of low-carbon electricity in Argentina, there has been prominent reliance on hydroelectric power, with fluctuating ups and downs throughout the decades. In the 1980s, hydroelectric power showed a modest increase of 4.5 TWh, but endured a substantial fall of -6.7 TWh in 1988. There were several peaks and troughs in the ensuing years, particularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Interestingly, there was considerable expansion of hydroelectric power in 2000 and 2001, with an increase of 7.2 TWh and 8 TWh respectively. Meanwhile, wind energy, another source of low-carbon electricity, started making significant contributions in the last part of the 21st century. The year 2019 saw a rise of 3.6 TWh in wind power, which further increased by 4.4 TWh in 2020. However, hydroelectric power witnessed another dip of -4.4 TWh in 2023, which signals a need for Argentina to diversify its low-carbon electricity portfolio.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources