QUITO, Ecuador, Aug 19, CMC – The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) says the region generated 176 TWh of electricity in May this year, representing a 7.32 per cent increase compared with the previous month and a 4.1 per cent rise compared with May last year.
Nine of OLACDE’s 27 member countries, including Belize exceeded the regional average for renewable electricity generation in May. Belize’s output had been put at 72 per cent.
According to OLACDE’s latest Monthly Electricity Generation Report, hydropower remained the region’s leading source of electricity, accounting for 43.4 per cent of total generation, followed by natural gas at 24.4 per cent and wind power 11.6 percent.
“The increase in electricity generation came amid a shift in the region’s power generation mix. Compared with May 2025, hydropower output fell by 10 TWh due to lower water availability. This decline was offset primarily by a six TWh increase in natural gas-fired generation and a 4.4 TWh rise in wind power, alongside higher contributions from coal, oil and petroleum products.”
OLACDE said despite reduced hydropower availability, renewable sources accounted for 64 per cent of all electricity generated in the region in May. It said between May 2025 and May 2026, the renewable share ranged from 63 to 72 per cent underscoring the continued predominance of renewables in the regional electricity mix
“The results highlight a power generation mix with a high share of renewables, while also underscoring the importance of complementary energy sources to respond to fluctuations in hydrological conditions and electricity demand.”
Month to month variation showed increases across all sources except bioenergy, driven by climatic factors and higher electricity demand. The strongest rises were observed in oil and derivatives, coal, natural gas, and nuclear generation.
CMC/ag/ir/2026