1. Latin America: Renewables at the Crossroads of Multiple Drivers

Latin America is primed for rapid renewable energy growth. This is not just an expectation of hope given the need for the region and indeed the world to urgently address the red line of climate change and shift towards a net zero energy system in the next few decades. However, Latin America is well-endowed in renewable energy resources, with around a quarter of total primary energy supply from renewables, and rich but heavily dependent on fossil fuels and extractives for energy security and economic development. With the necessity to address climate change, the region needs to diversify its energy mix to promote low carbon options. This chapter introduces Latin America in all its rich diversity before exploring the complex contextual drivers that have led the region’s initiatives to develop and deploy renewable energy to reach a crossroads: how to decarbonise in a way that addresses the drivers of energy security, economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability?