El Salvador is already a trailblazer in clean electricity generation, with over 80% of its electricity coming from low-carbon sources. This impressive achievement is led by hydropower, which composes almost a third of the total electricity generation, followed by geothermal, accounting for a little over 23%. Solar and biofuels also play significant roles, generating more than 15% and over 11% respectively. Wind power is currently a minimal contributor to the mix. Fossil fuels account for only a small fraction, around 7%, of the overall electricity generation, showcasing El Salvador’s commitment to sustainable energy. The country’s reliance on net imports is just over 10%, indicating some room for further expansion of domestic clean energy solutions. As El Salvador continues its journey toward sustainability, electrifying sectors like transport, heating, and the industry will demand substantial growth in electricity production.
Is Electricity Growing in El Salvador?
However, electricity consumption per person has seen a decline, which raises concerns. In 2024, the total electricity consumption was about 1128 kWh per person, which marks a decrease from the 1240 kWh per person recorded in 2021. This represents a reduction of 112 kWh per person compared to the previous peak. Similarly, low-carbon electricity production has decreased slightly, with the 2024 figure standing at 935 kWh per person, down by 25 kWh from the 2022 record. These downward trends might hinder the potential electrification of additional sectors and fail to meet the growing demand for green energy.
Suggestions
To bolster its clean electricity generation and meet future demands, El Salvador could focus on expanding its existing solar infrastructure. Solar energy is already an integral part of the country’s electricity portfolio, and further investment in solar panels could greatly increase the nation’s low-carbon electricity capacity. Given solar energy’s proven capability in El Salvador, expanding solar farms could pave the way for greater domestic energy production and reduced reliance on imports. In addition, exploring the potential of nuclear energy could further solidify El Salvador’s status as a champion of sustainable electricity by diversifying and stabilizing its energy sources.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in El Salvador reflects a pattern of both growth and occasional setbacks, especially within its hydropower sector. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, hydropower experienced fluctuations, with modest increases overshadowed by declines such as in 1982 and 1994. The mid-1990s to early 2000s saw irregular growth, as increases were offset by declines like those in 1997 and 2000. However, the nation rebounded with continuous growth during the early 2000s, reflecting a committed push towards sustainable hydroelectric expansion as demonstrated by the positive changes in 2010 and subsequent years. 2020 marked a significant positive milestone, with both hydro and solar energy contributing sustainable gains, with solar notably adding an increased amount to the mix. The commitment to hydropower continues with a positive increase observed in 2022, demonstrating resilience and a trajectory of focus on expanding El Salvador’s clean energy capacity.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.