Over the 12-month period from July 2024 to June 2025, Chile's electricity generation has leaned heavily towards low-carbon sources, with more than 70% of its electricity originating from clean energy options like hydropower, solar, wind, and biofuels. Specifically, hydropower and solar energy have been significant contributors, making up close to 28% and 24% of total electricity generation, respectively. Wind is also playing a crucial role, contributing nearly 13%. On the other hand, fossil fuels still account for a significant portion, amounting to almost 30% of the electricity generation. Within the fossil category, coal and gas are almost equally used, each responsible for about 14% of the total, while oil accounts for just over 1%. This energy mix highlights Chile's robust commitment to low-carbon energy even as it tackles existing fossil fuel dependencies.
Data sources used on this page include IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Chile?
Despite Chile's reliance on low-carbon electricity sources, the overall trend in electricity consumption per person has seen a slight decline. The latest data from 2025 shows that the average electricity consumption has fallen to around 4387 kWh per person, down from the previous record of 4532 kWh per person set in 2022, marking a decline of 145 kWh per person. Additionally, the low-carbon electricity generation per person has also decreased from its peak in 2024, now slightly reduced by 53 kWh per person to 3094 kWh. These figures suggest a worrying trend of stagnation in electricity growth, which is disappointing given the urgent need for more electricity generation to support electrification and technological advancements such as AI.
Suggestions
To accelerate the increase in low-carbon electricity generation, Chile should aim to expand its wind and solar projects, which are already significant contributors. Taking cues from successful regions like Iowa and Denmark, which generate around 60% and 59% of their electricity from wind, respectively, Chile can further develop its wind-powered infrastructure. Furthermore, nuclear energy offers a complementary clean electricity solution, with countries like France and Slovakia generating over two-thirds of their electricity from nuclear power. By taking lessons from these regions, Chile has an opportunity to diversify its low-carbon portfolio further, ensuring a stable, sustainable future as it reduces dependence on fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change and pollution, in favor of reliable and clean energy sources such as nuclear and solar.
History
Chile's history of low-carbon electricity highlights several phases of growth and change. In the early 1990s, substantial increases in hydropower were observed, with annual gains reaching up to 4.2 TWh in 1991. However, the late 1990s and early 2000s introduced periods of fluctuations, with declines in certain years. For instance, 1998 and 1999 saw decreases of 3 TWh and 2.4 TWh respectively. The mid-2000s was another growth phase for hydropower, peaking with an increase of 4.5 TWh in 2005. More recently, solar power has emerged as a significant new player in the low-carbon mix, with a notable surge in 2022 that added 5.1 TWh. This expanded role of solar power has continued, as seen with further increases in both 2022 and 2023, showcasing a promising shift towards diversified low-carbon sources that complements the traditional reliance on hydropower.
