Nicaragua energy mix & electricity
In 2024, Nicaragua generated 4.5 TWh of electricity. Oil is the largest source at 37.6%, ahead of bioenergy (19.7%) and geothermal and other renewables (15.3%).
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 1.7 | 37.6% | −8.6 |
| Bioenergy | 0.89 | 19.7% | +8.7 |
| Other renewables | 0.69 | 15.3% | +0.5 |
| Hydro | 0.65 | 14.4% | +5.4 |
| Wind | 0.56 | 12.4% | −6.7 |
| Solar | 0.03 | 0.7% | +0.7 |
| Total | 4.52 | 100% |
Nicaragua: electricity in context
In 2024, Nicaragua generated 4.5 TWh of electricity. That is similar to Papua New Guinea. Oil is the largest source at 37.6%, ahead of bioenergy (19.7%) and geothermal and other renewables (15.3%).
62.4% of the country’s power came from renewable sources: 48th of 158 countries. This puts it 29 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for North America (28.8%). The carbon intensity of electricity is 301 g CO₂e/kWh; the global average is 458 g/kWh. That makes the grid somewhat cleaner than the world average. On carbon intensity, Nicaragua ranks 61st of 158 from the cleanest.
Over the past decade bioenergy added more generation than any other source (+400 GWh since 2014, plus 8.7 percentage points of share). Oil moved the other way, falling by 360 GWh. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 8.6 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 60 GWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 339 to 301 g/kWh, a 11% cut.
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Nicaragua in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 13.1% of electricity (solar 0.7%, wind 12.4%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Wind adds 81 kWh per person.
Nicaragua generates 654 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 17% of the global average. Imports cover around 17% of demand: Nicaragua bought 900 GWh more electricity than it exported.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Nicaragua against the world and North America averages.
Power plants in Nicaragua
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 16 utility-scale plants in Nicaragua with a combined capacity of 0.9 GW. Oil plants account for the largest slice (47% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is San Jacinto-Tizate Geothermal Power Plant Nicaragua (82 MW, Geothermal). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jacinto-Tizate Geothermal Power Plant Nicaragua | Geothermal | 82 | — | — |
| 2 | Momotombo Geothermal Power Plant Nicaragua | Geothermal | 77 | — | — |
| 3 | Corinto Barge IC Power Plant Nicaragua | Oil | 71 | — | — |
| 4 | ENEL Las Brisas Thermal Power Plant Nicaragua | Gas | 65 | — | — |
| 5 | CENSA Amfels IC Poqwer Plant Nicaragua | Oil | 64 | — | — |
| 6 | ALBANISA Che Guevara II IV V (Masaya) IC Power Plant Nicaragua | Oil | 61 | — | — |
| 7 | Nicaragua Sugar Estates Cogen Power Plant Nicaragua | Waste | 59 | — | — |
| 8 | ENEL Managua Thermal Power Plant Nicaragua | Oil | 57 | — | — |
| 9 | Monte Rosa Cogen Power Plant Nicaragua | Waste | 57 | — | — |
| 10 | ALBANISA Che Guevara VI VII (Nagarote) IC Power Plant Nicaragua | Oil | 54 | — | — |
| 11 | Carlos Fonesca (Santa Barbara) Hydroelectric Power Plant Nicaragua | Hydro | 54 | — | — |
| 12 | Tipitapa IC Power Plant Nicaragua | Oil | 51 | — | — |
| 13 | Centroamerica Hydroelectric Power Plant Nicaragua | Hydro | 50 | — | — |
| 14 | ALBANISA Che Guevara VIII (Leon) IC Power Plant Nicaragua | Oil | 27 | — | — |
| 15 | ALBANISA Che Guevara III (Managua) IC Power Plant Nicaragua | Oil | 20 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 16 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Nicaragua
31 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 43 MW of solar and 189 MW of wind operating, plus 484 MW under construction or planned.
How does Nicaragua compare?
Nicaragua next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicaragua | 62.4% | 62.4% | 37.6% | 301 | 654 | 4.5 | — | |
| Costa Rica | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 2,486 | 12.8 | Compare | |
| Honduras | 55.4% | 55.4% | 44.6% | 322 | 1,153 | 12.5 | Compare | |
| El Salvador | 86.5% | 86.5% | 13.5% | 139 | 1,015 | 6.5 | Compare | |
| Belize | 87.2% | 87.2% | 12.8% | 170 | 1,127 | 0.5 | Compare | |
| Guatemala | 68.3% | 68.3% | 31.7% | 301 | 858 | 15.8 | Compare | |
| Panama | 68% | 68% | 32% | 221 | 2,974 | 13.4 | Compare | |
| North America average | 28.8% | 44.7% | 55.3% | 369 | 9,025 | 5,534 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Nicaragua
Nicaragua energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Nicaragua is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Nicaragua?
How clean is the electricity in Nicaragua?
Does Nicaragua have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Nicaragua use per person?
How much solar power does Nicaragua produce?
Does Nicaragua import electricity?
More countries in North America
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.