Can Latin America win the race to 100% renewables?

There's an understandable focus on the the energy transition in the United States right now. But down in South America there is a quiet revolution going on in renewable power which could see that continent decarbonise far sooner than its northern neighbour.

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Reference Links:

IRENA - Renewable Capacity statistics 2025
https://www.irena.org/Publications/2025/Mar/Renewable-capacity-statistics-2025

IEA - Climate impacts on Latin American hydropower
https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-impacts-on-latin-american-hydropower/climate-impacts-on-latin-american-hydropower

EMBER - Reducing curtailment in Chile
https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/reducing-curtailment-in-chile-key-to-unlock-the-full-potential-of-renewable-energy/

PV Magazine - Brazil generates 88% of power from renewables in 2024
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/06/02/brazil-generates-88-of-power-from-renewables-in-2024/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Clean Technica (Michael Barnard) - Coal power in South America
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/21/south-america-sets-historic-benchmark-zero-new-coal-plants-planned


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