Renewable energy in Latin America

Abstract

Since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, signatory countries have been adopting commitments to promote the use of renewable energy. Among the signatory countries, those of Latin America have stood out for the high percentage of renewables in their energy mix and their commitment to continue advancing towards energy decarbonization. This commitment implies the need to adequately recognize the starting point of renewable energy consumption in the region, and its relationship with the population and regional production. This study analyzes the evolution of renewable energy consumption in the Latin American region and its member countries, in relation to the Worldwide position, from 1993 to 2018. For this, the direct consumption of renewable energies and the energy used to generate electricity and heat, have been considered. These values are analyzed in Worldwide per capita and per unit production terms. The results show that the Latin American region has a higher percentage of renewables in its energy mix than Worldwide, with this percentage being even higher when considering only the consumption of renewable energies of indirect origin. Brazil stands out for the share of its renewable consumption. In terms of per capita renewable energy consumption, Latin America presents higher values than those achieved Worldwide, with a growing trend throughout the studied period. The renewable energy intensity is also higher in Latin America, with a decreasing trend, as experienced Worldwide.