In 2023, Venezuela's electricity consumption is heavily reliant on low-carbon energy sources, with a striking 78% of its electricity coming from clean sources. Hydropower dominates this clean energy mix, contributing almost the entire share of the low-carbon electricity with a rounded figure of 78%. In stark contrast, fossil energy accounts for just over a fifth of the total electricity consumption, at about 22%. The primary fossil energy source is gas, which makes up approximately 15% of the overall electricity consumption. This division highlights Venezuela's strong lean towards hydropower, setting a promising foundation for future clean energy initiatives.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Venezuela?
Despite the reliance on low-carbon energy sources, Venezuela's overall electricity consumption per person has seen a notable decline. In 2023, electricity consumption per person stands at about 2931 kWh, which is significantly lower than the 4252 kWh/person peak witnessed in 2008. This represents a decrease of over 1300 kWh per person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation has diminished, with current figures at 2297 kWh/person, down from the 2008 peak of 3096 kWh/person. This change, a reduction of nearly 800 kWh per person in clean energy generation, makes clear the urgency for Venezuela to innovate and expand its electricity infrastructure to recover and exceed its previous consumption levels.
Suggestions
For Venezuela to enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, it can draw inspiration from regions successfully harnessing solar and nuclear energy. Countries like France and Slovakia have effectively integrated nuclear energy into their electricity mix, with nuclear contributing over two-thirds of their electricity. Meanwhile, regions like North Macedonia have capitalized on solar energy, achieving almost half of their electricity from solar. By embracing and investing in both nuclear and solar energy technologies, Venezuela can diversify its clean energy portfolio, providing a robust foundation for sustainable electricity growth and reducing reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change and air pollution.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Venezuela has predominantly been shaped by the expansion and fluctuations in hydroelectric power. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, there was consistent annual growth, with hydroelectric production increasing by around 3 to 7 TWh each year. Significant advancements occurred in the early 2000s, most notably in 2004 with an addition of 9.5 TWh. However, the following decade brought instability, marked by substantial decreases such as the 19.3 TWh drop in 2014, reflecting vulnerabilities in relying predominantly on hydropower. Encouragingly, recent years have seen some recovery, highlighted by a considerable 12.9 TWh increase in 2020. This history underscores the need for diversification in low-carbon electricity sources to ensure sustained and resilient electricity generation.
