Electrical energy storage technologies El Salvador

What is the energy supply in El Salvador?

In 2019, total energy supply in El Salvador reached around 156 600 TJ (see Figure 5). That year, the renewable energy source with the largest share as part of the primary energy supply was bioenergy (19.6%), followed by hydropower (3.5%), geothermal energy (3.4%), and solar energy (1.1%) (CNE, 2020).

Why is El Salvador a big importer of electricity?

El Salvador currently imports about one-quarter of the country’s total electricity, making it the largest importer of electricity in Central America. Government officials have said the heavy reliance on imported power creates energy security risks, along with providing an economic challenge.

Who manages the electricity market in El Salvador?

The UT manages the country’s electricity market and is responsible for the operation of the transmission system (SIGET, 2019). The electricity market in El Salvador comprises both public and private sector actors (Figure 14).

Who owns El Salvador's electricity?

CEL is an independent, public electric utility in charge of developing, conserving, managing, and using the energy resources of El Salvador. Clean energy is generated in four hydropower plants located at diferent points in the Lempa River basin. ETESAL is El Salvador’s transmission system owner.

What is El Salvador's Energy Cabinet?

The Energy Cabinet is composed by the Presidential Commissioner for Operations and Government Cabinet, MINEC, CNE, CEL, SIGET and the DC. Until the 1990s, El Salvador maintained a vertically integrated structure in its power sector, with CEL as the country’s only state-owned generator.

What are thermal power plants used for in El Salvador?

Thermal power plants are at present used as a back-up for variable renewable energy (VRE) generation. Thermal electricity production in El Salvador is, however, sometimes costlier than importing electricity within the regional market, as will be presented in the section below.