Electricity in El Salvador in 2022

El Salvador's electricity consumption for the year 2022 is mainly produced by low-carbon sources, with a significant portion provided by hydro and geothermal energy. Hydropower contributes over 2.41 TWh and geothermal slightly over 1.6 TWh. Solar energy, another low-carbon source, contributes 1.1 TWh. Fossil energy, which includes gas, provides a combined total of roughly 3 TWh with gas alone generating over 1 TWh. Summing up these different sources, electricity generation in El Salvador does fall significantly lower than the global average of 410 watts per person. The potential implications of these low levels of electricity production could range from restricted economic growth to limited access to basic amenities, both of which could be exacerbated by a pressing need to combat climate change.

Suggestions

Looking at various strategies other nations have implemented can provide valuable lessons for El Salvador in increasing its low-carbon electricity generation. The fact that El Salvador is already extracting a significant portion of its electricity from solar technologies suggests there is further potential for expansion within this domain. Countries like the People's Republic of China, the United States, and India, have notably been able to generate large volumes of electricity by harnessing solar power. Using these countries as role models, El Salvador could follow suit by expanding its solar capabilities, accessing financing for solar projects and supporting research and innovation in this field.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in El Salvador reveals a consistent reliance on hydropower throughout the years. The sector saw an uptick in the late 1970s with an increase of 0.4 TWh. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was a series of fluctuations with minor drops and rises. In the early 2000s, there were modest increases, but the overall trend during this decade remained somewhat stable. It was not until 2020 that a notable rise in hydropower took place, coinciding with the burgeoning of solar power, which contributed an additional 0.4 TWh. This trend continued into 2022 with a further increase in hydropower. Throughout these decades, El Salvador's commitment to harnessing hydropower has remained steadfast, creating a solid base upon which new low-carbon initiatives like solar can be built and expanded.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources