Energy in El Salvador
The 2025 power mix
| Source | Share of generation | GWh |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 29.15% | 2,226.6 |
| Hydropower | 27.47% | 2,098.3 |
| Geothermal | 19.15% | 1,462.8 |
| Solar | 8.04% | |
| Biomass | 6.93% | |
| Wind | 2.27% |
Source: Infobae: El Salvador changed its electricity mix in 2025; gas, hydro and geothermal generated more than 75%1
Main plants and projects
- LNG at Acajutla: Energía del Pacífico (EDP), with Invenergy as majority partner, has run a 380 MW gas plant since April 2022. It injected 2,127 GWh in 2024, more than 30% of national demand, from an investment of USD 1,150 million.
- Geothermal: LaGeo, owned by the state hydro company CEL, runs the Ahuachapán and Berlín fields. A USD 150 million World Bank loan approved in March 2025 supports a first 25 MW plant at Chinameca and exploration for up to 40 MW more.
- Cox programme: the Spanish group Cox agreed in October 2026 to develop 440 to 500 MWh of battery storage, two solar plants of 200 MW (expandable to 400 MW) with CEL, and an LNG terminal with a combined-cycle plant of about 380 MW. The projects remain subject to approvals.
Source: El Diario de Hoy: how the Acajutla natural gas plant works, 24 January 2025; ThinkGeoEnergy: World Bank announces USD 150 million investment for geothermal in El Salvador, 31 March 2025; Enerdata: Cox invests USD 3bn for storage, solar, LNG and water projects in El Salvador, 15 October 2026; US Department of State: 2026 Investment Climate Statement, El Salvador2,3,4,5
El Salvador was a net exporter of electricity in 2023 and 2024, with more than 186 GWh exported in 2024.2
For investors
Private generators sell power under contracts with the distribution companies: at Acajutla, 355 MW of the 380 MW are contracted by four distributors. The state companies CEL and LaGeo are partners in hydro, geothermal and the new solar plants. Renewable projects can claim the tax incentives explained on the renewable energy page, and the electricity page covers tariffs for businesses.2,5,4
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does El Salvador’s electricity come from?
In 2025 natural gas produced 29.15% of the electricity injected into the grid, hydropower 27.47% and geothermal 19.15%, according to the market operator Unidad de Transacciones.
How much electricity comes from renewables?
Renewables passed 64% of generation in 2025.
Who owns the power plants?
The state controls more than half of generation, including all hydro and geothermal plants, according to the US Investment Climate Statement 2026.
Sources
- Infobae: El Salvador changed its electricity mix in 2025; gas, hydro and geothermal generated more than 75% (in Spanish)
- El Diario de Hoy: how the Acajutla natural gas plant works, 24 January 2025 (in Spanish)
- ThinkGeoEnergy: World Bank announces USD 150 million investment for geothermal in El Salvador, 31 March 2025
- Enerdata: Cox invests USD 3bn for storage, solar, LNG and water projects in El Salvador, 15 October 2026
- US Department of State: 2026 Investment Climate Statement, El Salvador
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
