In Colombia, the electricity landscape over the past 12 months, ranging from July 2024 to June 2025, is predominantly governed by low-carbon sources, contributing to about 73% of the total electricity generation. Hydropower is the lion's share here, constituting approximately 64% of electricity consumption, emphasizing Colombia's reliance on harnessing the power of its abundant waterways. Solar energy makes up about 5%, indicating a smaller but notable contribution to the green energy mix. On the other hand, fossil energy remains a significant player, accounting for about 27% of electricity generation. The largest share within fossil fuels is gas, providing around 14% of the total electricity, followed by coal at roughly 9%, and oil at about 4%. Awareness and shifts towards cleaner energy sources remain vital, especially given the pressing concerns over climate change and air pollution associated with fossil fuel use.
Data sources used on this page include IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Colombia?
Analyzing the electricity consumption trends in Colombia suggests a mild concern regarding growth patterns. The latest data from 2025 indicates an average electricity consumption of 1673 kWh per person, a slight dip from the 2024 peak of 1705 kWh per person, a decline of 33 kWh per person. While this indicates a minor decrease, it underscores the urgent need for growth in low-carbon electricity. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation showed a reduction from a high point in 2017, where it was at 1306 kWh per person, to 1216 kWh in the current year, reflecting a decline of 91 kWh per person. This drop in both overall and low-carbon electricity consumption is concerning as it might impede the progress needed to power future demand and the essential transition toward a more sustainable grid.
Suggestions
To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Colombia can take valuable lessons from successful global examples. Increasing solar power capacity could be further inspired by regions like Nevada and California, where solar represents a significant 33% and 29% respectively of their electricity mix. Furthermore, exploring nuclear energy as a stable, low-carbon alternative can be crucial; regions like France and Slovakia exhibit tremendous nuclear generation, with nuclear making up 70% and 66% of their electricity, respectively. Emulating these strategies can lead to a robust and sustainable electricity infrastructure in Colombia, eventually reducing reliance on fossil fuels and moving towards a cleaner energy future.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Colombia, particularly hydropower, has seen fluctuations over the years. In the early 1990s, changes included a notable decrease in 1992 by 5.4 TWh followed by an increase in 1993 and 1994. The late 1990s saw a slight decline again in 1997. Significant growth came in 2011 and 2017, with increases of 8.5 TWh and 12.3 TWh respectively, indicating strong years for hydroelectric power expansion. However, declines such as that in 2019 by 7 TWh and recent dips in 2024 and 2023 require a strategic push for stability. In 2024, solar showed promising growth with an increase of 3.7 TWh, highlighting potential for diversification. The varied history exemplifies the need for continuous investment and innovation in low-carbon sources to sustain and escalate Colombia's electricity landscape positively into the future.
