El Salvador’s renewable sources have enabled the country to have enough capacity to meet the demand of households and businesses, according to the Vice President of AES El Salvador’s Electric Market and External Relations, Miguel Campos. In 2022, the country had an installed energy capacity of 2,778 MWh, driven by renewables.
Campos stated that the country has enough capacity to meet national and even regional demand. Last year, El Salvador’s installed capacity and energy matrix reached 2,778 megawatt hours (MWh), a figure higher than the total demand of the country.
According to Campos, the wholesale market is where private and state-owned generators buy and sell electricity, power, and any other necessary products for the operation of the National Electrical System.
Hydroelectric generation has been one of the most significant contributors to the energy matrix, followed by solar, liquefied natural gas, biomass, geothermal, wind, and biogas, Campos explained.
As of December 31st, 2022, energy distribution companies reported a total of 2,086,675 end-users, with residential demand accounting for 41%, while medium and large demand accounted for 46%.
New Investments
AES El Salvador has committed to contributing to a greener and more sustainable future by increasing its renewable generation sources, Campos stated. The company has begun replacing traditional electricity meters with smart meters, which are more efficient.
The company’s projections include the incorporation of lithium-ion batteries, which would allow for the integration of more solar, wind, and distributed generation resources, as well as an increase in the capacity of existing plants.
The company is also betting on electromobility and currently has 19 electric cars and 12 charging stations in its offices and those of its strategic partners.