In Bolivia, electricity consumption in 2024 shows a significant reliance on fossil fuels, with a little more than 60% of electricity being generated from gas, accounting for most of the 62% that comes from fossil sources. Conversely, low-carbon energy sources such as hydropower, wind, biofuels, and solar contribute around 38% of the total electricity generation. Among these, hydropower stands out as a leading clean energy source, providing about 28% of the nation's electricity. Wind and biofuels each contribute a small portion slightly over 3%, and solar energy accounts for a little under 3%. This current mix demonstrates a need to increase the share of clean energy to further reduce dependency on fossil fuels and the negative environmental impacts they cause.
Is Electricity Growing in Bolivia?
There is positive growth in Bolivia's electricity consumption, with the latest per capita consumption figures reaching 998 kWh per person, surpassing the previous record of 975 kWh per person in 2023. This reflects an increase of 23 kWh per person. More encouraging is the growth in low-carbon electricity generation, which now stands at 379 kWh per person against the previous record of 350 kWh per person in 2021, marking an increase of 29 kWh. Both overall and low-carbon electricity growth indicate a promising direction towards meeting rising demand while gradually shifting to cleaner energy sources. This upward trend provides a foundation to continue expanding Bolivia's low-carbon electricity capabilities.
Suggestions
To further boost low-carbon electricity generation, Bolivia can look to successes in other regions for inspiration. Regions with a strong focus on clean energy, such as Iowa and South Dakota, each generate more than half of their electricity from wind, illustrating the potential of wind energy in suitable regions. France and Slovakia provide prime examples of the substantial role nuclear energy can play in a country's energy mix, with nuclear power generating more than 60% of their electricity. Given the similarity between the climatic and geographical conditions in Bolivia and countries successful in harnessing solar power, such as Chile and Greece, solar power expansion should also be a focus. By learning from these regions, Bolivia can diversify its low-carbon energy portfolio, including boosting solar and nuclear energy adoption.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Bolivia highlights periods of growth and decline, with hydropower witnessing various changes over the decades. From 1980 to the early 2000s, hydropower's contributions experienced minor fluctuations, both positive and negative. The mid-2010s, however, saw a more turbulent phase, most notably in 2016 when a significant decline of 0.8 TWh was recorded. However, recovery efforts were clear from 2017 onwards, with consistent growth in hydropower generation and even a notable addition of 0.5 TWh in 2024. The relatively new inclusion of wind energy in 2022, with an increase of 0.3 TWh, marks a diversification of clean electricity sources. Despite these fluctuations, the commitment to enhancing low-carbon electricity shows promise for Bolivia's sustainable energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.