Colombia already gets about 81% of its electricity from low-carbon sources—a substantial achievement. Over the last 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, hydropower supplied almost three-quarters of electricity consumption, solar provided about 6%, and biofuels contributed just over 1%. Fossil fuels supplied the remaining 19%, including about 11% from gas, 5% from coal and 3% from oil. With such a clean electricity mix, Colombia’s next challenge is to electrify transport, heating and industry, which will require much more electricity while helping reduce fossil-fuel-related climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Colombia?

Electricity consumption is growing, and clean generation is setting new records too. The latest 2026 figure puts total electricity consumption at 1,710 kWh per person, up 30 kWh from the previous record of 1,680 kWh in 2025—an increase of almost 2%. Low-carbon electricity generation reached 1,382 kWh per person, exceeding its 2025 record of 1,344 kWh by 38 kWh, or almost 3%. These are encouraging gains, with clean electricity growing faster than overall consumption, but sustained expansion will be needed to support electrification and future demand, including from AI.

Suggestions

Colombia can increase low-carbon electricity generation by accelerating solar deployment, from rooftop systems to large solar plants, alongside investment in transmission, storage and grid modernization. It should also consider developing nuclear electricity, which could add a steady source of clean generation and complement its substantial hydropower fleet and expanding solar output. Clear long-term planning, investment in workforce skills and efficient project approval processes would help turn these opportunities into a larger, more diverse low-carbon electricity supply.

History

Colombia’s low-carbon electricity history has been dominated by hydropower, with strong growth interrupted by substantial declines. Generation rose by about 3 TWh in 1986, then fell by more than 5 TWh in 1992 before rebounding by almost 6 TWh in 1993 and another 4 TWh in 1994. Further gains in 1996 and 1999 surrounded a 4 TWh decline in 1997. In the 2000s, increases of roughly 4 TWh in 2004 and 3 TWh in 2006 were followed by a decline of more than 5 TWh in 2009. The 2010s brought major gains of about 9 TWh in 2011 and 12 TWh in 2017, alongside a smaller rise in 2013 and disappointing declines in 2014 and 2019. More recently, generation fell by almost 5 TWh in 2020, rebounded by nearly 12 TWh in 2021, and declined again in 2023 and 2024 before a remarkable 13 TWh increase in 2025. This strong latest rebound is welcome, and expanding solar and considering nuclear would help Colombia sustain clean electricity growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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