Solar technology has become the defining feature of El Salvador’s electricity generation, with 97.02 percent of the country’s plants now running on photovoltaic systems, according to the General Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (Siget).
By the end of 2024, El Salvador counted 2,009 power plants with a total installed capacity of 3,101.2 megawatts (MW). Of these, 1,953 were solar plants producing 734.23 MW, making solar the second largest contributor to the grid, just behind the 13 fossil fuel plants with 757.12 MW.
Siget notes that solar energy began entering the market between 2014 and 2016 through competitive bidding processes and benefited from declining technology costs. “The first solar energy injections were recorded in 2016 with 60 MW, and within the following decade, the country experienced a boom in solar parks and rooftop systems on businesses and homes,” the agency stated.
Other renewable sources play key roles in the mix. Hydropower accounts for 20 plants generating 637.78 MW, led by the state-owned CEL with its flagship dams. Biomass contributes 295.40 MW across seven plants, while geothermal energy from three fields adds 209.40 MW. El Salvador also has one wind farm at 54 MW and five biogas plants with 8.35 MW.
In addition, the country operates a large liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant with 387.70 MW, ranking as the fourth largest source in the national market.
El Salvador’s reliance on solar reflects a rapid energy transition, signaling both a diversification of supply and the nation’s increasing commitment to renewable energy.