Electricity in Nicaragua in 2022

In 2022, Nicaragua's electricity consumption was predominantly sourced from low-carbon technologies, with just over half (approximately 56%) of its electricity generated from clean sources such as biofuels, geothermal, wind, and hydropower. Fossil fuels accounted for about a quarter (25%) of the country's electricity, posing environmental concerns like climate change and air pollution. Additionally, Nicaragua relied on net imports for approximately 19% of its electricity. Breaking down the low-carbon sources, biofuels made up nearly 18%, geothermal around 14%, wind about 12%, and hydropower close to 11% of the total electricity consumed.

Suggestions

To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Nicaragua could focus on expanding its existing wind energy infrastructure, as wind already contributes a significant share to the national grid. Drawing lessons from other countries with successful wind energy programs can be insightful. For example, Denmark, which generates around 61% of its electricity from wind, is a notable model. Uruguay and Ireland also demonstrate the potential of wind energy, with 36% and 34% of their electricity generated from this source respectively. By scaling up wind energy, Nicaragua can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and imported electricity, further contributing to a cleaner and more self-sufficient energy mix.

History

Historically, Nicaragua's commitment to low-carbon electricity has seen several key developments. In the early years, hydroelectric power experienced fluctuations, increasing by 0.2 TWh in 1972 but declining twice by -0.2 TWh in 1977 and 1983. Geothermal energy began contributing in 1984 with an increase of 0.2 TWh, and saw another boost in 1989. The 2000s saw a renewed focus on hydroelectric power along with initial investments in wind energy, particularly evident from 2013 onwards. Wind energy grew by 0.2 TWh in 2013 and another 0.3 TWh in 2014. The recent decades have shown a consistent endeavor to diversify and grow low-carbon sources, marked by notable advancements in geothermal, wind, and biofuels, helping Nicaragua build a robust low-carbon electricity framework.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources