Electricity in Chile in 2023

In Chile, data from 2023 shows a noteworthy commitment to clean energy sources with around 66% of their total electricity being produced from low-carbon means. The one significant contributor to this figure is hydropower, generating over 30% of the country's electricity. Following closely behind hydropower is solar energy, making up almost 18%, while wind power accounts for approximately 11% of the electricity. Biofuels also contribute to the energy mix with almost 6%. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, constitute a sizable portion of Chile's energy consumption, specifically gas at 18% and coal at around 16%.

Suggestions

Given the data above, Chile has a golden opportunity to further leverage under-utilized clean energy sources, notably wind and solar, which have proven successful in other similar regions around the world. For instance, Germany and Denmark, harnessing 30% and 59% respectively of their electricity from wind, serve as formidable benchmarks for Chile. Equally, Uruguay, Spain, and the Netherlands have also shown impressive commitments to wind power. Furthermore, considering Chile's substantial deposits of uranium, the country could take notes from France, Slovakia, and Ukraine, all successfully generating over 50% of their electricity from nuclear power, further boosting their low-carbon generation.

History

Looking into the historical data of low-carbon electricity in Chile, it is evident that hydropower has greatly contributed to Chile's energy landscape since the 1990s. The turn of the 21st century saw considerable fluctuations in the use of hydroelectric power, with major increases recorded in years like 1991, 1992, and notably 2000. However, the period between 1998 and 2007 saw a period of decline in hydro generation with negative change recorded. This decline was halted in 2007 and a general upward trend in hydroelectric generation was observed, albeit with occasional decreases. The year 2021 marked a considerable milestone in Chile's clean energy journey, with solar energy seeing a substantial rise of 3.1 TWh, thus adding another critical facet to the nation's green energy matrix.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources