Electricity in Colombia in 2023/2024

From August 2023 to July 2024, Colombia's electricity generation showed a strong reliance on low-carbon sources, providing more than 60% of the nation's electricity. The lion's share of this came from hydropower, which alone constituted approximately 57% of the total. Solar made up a small but noteworthy segment of 2.5%, followed closely by biofuels contributing just over 2%. The remaining 39% was generated by fossil energy sources, primarily gas, which accounted for about 20%, followed by coal at roughly 15%, and oil just under 4%. This clear distinction between low-carbon and fossil energy emphasizes the solid foundation set by clean electricity sources in Colombia, even as fossil fuels continue to play a significant role in the overall energy mix.

Suggestions

To further heighten its low-carbon electricity generation, Colombia can draw valuable lessons from other nations that have successfully diversified their energy portfolios, particularly with wind and nuclear power. Uruguay's impressive success in wind energy, at 36%, offers a model that Colombia could follow, leveraging its own geographical potential for wind farms. Furthermore, countries like Slovakia and France, each generating over 60% of their electricity from nuclear energy, demonstrate that with adequate investment and policy support, nuclear power can be scaled up remarkably to meet sustainable energy goals. By exploring possibilities within these domains, Colombia could significantly enhance its clean electricity output and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to a decrease in carbon emissions and air pollution.

History

Historically, Colombia's journey with low-carbon electricity has been heavily aligned with hydropower advances. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the country experienced both increases and declines: for instance, a substantial decline of 5.4 TWh in 1992 followed by a robust recovery of 5.6 TWh in 1993. The late 1990s and early 2000s continued to see fluctuations but nothing as dramatic until 2011, when Colombia witnessed a significant surge of 8.4 TWh, marking a high point in hydropower expansion. More recent years, however, have shown some volatility with declines in 2019 and 2020 being particularly notable. Despite these challenges, a remarkable increase in 2021 of over 12 TWh underscored the resilience and centrality of hydropower in Colombia's electricity generation landscape. These historical patterns suggest a persistent commitment to low-carbon electricity, though they also highlight the importance of incorporating other stable green sources to mitigate hydrological dependencies.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources