Electricity in Nicaragua in 2021
Global Ranking:
#106
42.2% #76 Low-carbon electricity
99.82
watts #152 Generation / person
The current state of electricity consumption in Nicaragua leans heavily towards low-carbon resources, producing 2.53 TWh compared to 2.1 TWh of fossil energy. Additionally, it seemingly relies on imports, bringing in 1.36 TWh from abroad. Despite these efforts towards incorporating clean energy, the overall electricity consumption per person remains significantly below the global average of 410 watts/person. This low-level electricity generation could be inhibiting economic growth and technological advancement, as various major industries and household activities require substantial amounts of power.
Suggestions
Examining comparative data from successful countries, Nicaragua might consider further expanding its existing wind generation capacity, as wind power is a reliable and clean energy source. Brazil, a country with a similar climate and geography, generates a substantial amount of its electricity (94 TWh) from wind energy. Moreover, Nicaragua could implement technologies well-established in other countries, like solar power in China (523 TWh) or nuclear power in the United States (775 TWh) to increase its low-carbon electricity generation.
History
Looking at Nicaragua's history of low-carbon electricity generation, there has been a gradual shift from reliance on hydro power, that marked the early days (1972), to exploring geothermal (1984) and wind (2013) sources. The fluctuating figures in hydro-electric generation through the years, with occasional decreases such as in 1977 and 1983, indicate a level of uncertainty or inconsistency. However, it's the geothermal experiment in 1984 that demonstrated steady growth and sustained contribution till today. Wind power, adopted only recently in 2013, is also showing promise despite a minor setback in 2016 when it regressed slightly. These figures provide a roadmap of Nicaragua's journey to cleaner energy pathways and show a progressive move to diversify their low-carbon energy mix, which is promising for their future energy sector.
Electricity Imports and Exports
Balance of Trade
Data Sources
For the years 1971 to 1975 the data source is
World Bank.
For the years 1976 to 1978 the data sources are
World Bank
and
IEA (imports/exports).
For the year 1979 the data source is
World Bank.
For the years 1980 to 1982 the data sources are
World Bank
and
IEA (imports/exports).
For the years 1990 to 1999 the data source is
IEA.
For the years 2000 to 2012 the data source is
Ember.
For the years 2013 to 2016 the data source is
IEA.
For the years 2017 to 2021 the data source is
Ember.