In 2025, Peru's electricity consumption presents a promising landscape with a significant inclination towards low-carbon sources. More than half of the electricity comes from low-carbon sources, primarily hydropower, which alone accounts for over 53% of the electricity mix. Wind and solar combined contribute close to 10%, with wind accounting for a little over 6% and solar for about 3.5%. However, fossil fuels still account for just under 36% of the electricity consumed, with natural gas representing nearly all of this proportion. This indicates that while Peru has made strides in clean electricity adoption, there remains a substantial amount of electricity still generated from fossil sources, which is concerning due to the associated climate impact and environmental concerns.
Data sources used on this page include Ember, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Peru?
Examining the growth of electricity in Peru, recent figures indicate a slight decline in overall electricity consumption per person, decreasing from 1869 kWh/person in 2024 to 1772 kWh/person in 2025. This decline of 97 kWh/person might point towards challenges in sustaining electricity growth. However, there's a positive note in the low-carbon segment, which has increased by 28 kWh/person, setting a new record of 1135 kWh/person. While this increase is commendable and reflects a positive shift towards cleaner energy, the slight reduction in total consumption overall raises concerns about meeting future demands, especially as Peru aims to electrify more aspects of its economy.
Suggestions
To further enhance low-carbon electricity in Peru, an increase in solar and nuclear energy generation offers tremendous potential. Taking inspiration from regions where solar energy thrives, such as Nevada and California, Peru can harness its abundant sunshine to significantly expand its solar capacity. Meanwhile, nuclear energy, which contributes significant shares in countries like France and Slovakia, offers a reliable and consistent clean energy source. By learning from these successful countries and possibly embarking on building nuclear infrastructure, Peru can secure a stable and sustainable energy future while reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.
History
Historically, low-carbon electricity in Peru has been influenced predominantly by hydropower, with periods of both growth and fluctuation. Since the early 1980s, there have been consistent increases in hydropower generation with occasional declines, such as the dip in 1992 and other minor reductions in subsequent years. The late 2010s marked significant growth, especially in 2017, when hydro generation surged dramatically. More recent years have also seen diversification with the introduction of wind energy in 2024, along with a modest increase in solar energy in 2025. These developments indicate an expanding low-carbon sector that, if continued, can form the backbone of Peru's cleaner and more sustainable electrical landscape.
