23.6%
Coal share of electricity
2022 (down from 37.2% in 2015)
48.1%
Renewables total (% electricity)
2021 (latest available)
0%
Nuclear electricity
Throughout 2015–2022
4,422
Electric consumption per capita (kWh)
2022
22.7%
Hydroelectric share
2022
⚡ Electricity Generation Mix by Source
Share by source (% of total electricity production) — 2015 to 2022
| Source | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 37.2% | 36.3% | 33.3% | 31.0% | 29.6% | 23.6% |
| Natural gas | 15.1% | 15.9% | 18.8% | 18.2% | 18.1% | 17.7% |
| Hydroelectric | 31.7% | 28.4% | 26.6% | 26.0% | 22.0% | 22.7% |
| Petroleum / oil | 4.2% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Renewables total | 43.7% | 46.3% | 45.4% | 48.8% | 48.1% | — |
| Nuclear | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Coal in sharp retreat
Coal's share of electricity generation fell from 37.2% in 2015 to 23.6% in 2022 — a 13.6 percentage-point decline over seven years. The renewable total (including hydro, wind, and solar) surpassed 48% of electricity production in 2020, driven by rapid Atacama Desert solar expansion and continued wind build-out in the south.
📈 Coal Share Decline 2015–2022
Coal as % of total electricity production. Max = 37.2% (2015).
201537.2%
201836.3%
201933.3%
202031.0%
202129.6%
202223.6%
Largest single-year drop: 2021–2022
The most significant year-over-year reduction in coal's share occurred between 2021 and 2022, when it fell by 6.0 percentage points — from 29.6% to 23.6%. This accelerated phase-out reflects Chile's policy commitments to close coal plants and the continued growth of solar capacity.
🌿 Renewables and Hydro Trends 2015–2022
Renewables total (% of electricity). Max = 48.8% (2020).
201543.7%
201846.3%
201945.4%
202048.8%
202148.1%
Hydroelectric (% of electricity). Max = 31.7% (2015).
201531.7%
201828.4%
201926.6%
202026.0%
202122.0%
202222.7%
Hydro declining, non-hydro renewables growing
Hydroelectric generation fell from 31.7% (2015) to 22.0% (2021) — a 9.7 pp drop — partly due to drought conditions in central Chile reducing reservoir levels. Total renewables nonetheless grew from 43.7% to 48.8% as solar and wind compensated for the hydro shortfall. Non-hydro renewable growth is the dominant structural change in Chile's electricity mix.
📊 Per-Capita Electricity Consumption 2015–2022
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita). Max = 4,422 kWh (2022).
20153,973
20184,172
20194,219
20204,167
20214,307
20224,422
Steady consumption growth, dip in 2020
Per-capita electricity consumption grew from 3,973 kWh (2015) to 4,422 kWh (2022), a 11.3% increase over seven years. The 2020 dip to 4,167 kWh reflects reduced industrial and commercial activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumption recovered strongly in 2021–2022, consistent with Chile's economic rebound.
🔥 Natural Gas and Petroleum Shares
Natural gas (% of electricity). Max = 18.8% (2019).
201515.1%
201815.9%
201918.8%
202018.2%
202118.1%
202217.7%
Petroleum / oil (% of electricity). Max = 4.2% (2015).
20154.2%
20181.6%
20191.4%
20202.1%
20213.5%
20223.4%
Gas stable; petroleum share volatile
Natural gas has held relatively stable at 15–19% of electricity, serving as a dispatchable complement to variable renewables. Petroleum-based generation fell sharply from 4.2% (2015) to a low of 1.4% (2019), then rebounded to 3.5% in 2021 as dry conditions reduced hydro output and gas supply constraints required oil-fired backup.
📌 Conclusions
Energy transition underway
- Coal fell from 37.2% (2015) to 23.6% (2022) — a 36.6% reduction
- Renewable electricity reached 48.8% in 2020 and 48.1% in 2021
- Per-capita consumption grew 11.3% over 2015–2022
- Nuclear = 0% throughout — transition led by solar and wind
Remaining challenges
- Coal still supplies nearly 1 in 4 kWh of electricity in 2022
- Hydro share declining due to drought exposure
- Petroleum share crept back up in 2021–2022
- Fossil fuels (coal + gas + oil) still at ~44.7% of electricity in 2022