The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) announced on March 27 that Peru has an estimated potential of 937,000 megawatts for electricity generation from solar energy. This was highlighted by José Meza, director of the General Directorate of Energy Efficiency (DGEE), who said this presents a strategic opportunity for energy security, sustainability, electrification in remote areas, and the country’s energy transition.
The announcement underscores the importance of renewable resources in Peru’s development. According to Meza, “Peru is a country blessed with energy resources, both non-renewable and renewable, with the latter being underutilized.” He explained that the identified solar potential comes from a technical study considering factors such as proximity to transmission networks, geographic conditions, and exclusion of protected areas.
During the XIII Conference Peru Energía 2026, Meza said that southern regions have some of the highest levels of solar radiation globally. Arequipa leads with a potential capacity of 230,000 megawatts; Ica follows with 160,000 megawatts; and Puno ranks third at 136,000 megawatts. Other regions such as Piura (132,000 MW), Tacna (71,000 MW), Moquegua (55,000 MW), Cusco (44,000 MW), Ayacucho (29,000 MW), Lambayeque (20,000 MW), Áncash (14,000 MW), Junín (10,000 MW) also present significant opportunities for solar projects.
Meza emphasized that regions like Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna possess some of the world’s highest levels of solar radiation. He said this makes Peru an attractive destination for investments in photovoltaic generation.
He added there is currently a portfolio of projects under development. As of February 2026 initiatives in study phase have received Pre-Operativity Studies approved by the Committee on Economic Operation of the National Interconnected System (COES). These could contribute up to 13.6 gigawatts in new installed capacity.
Meza concluded by noting that global trends favor renewable energies over hydrocarbons—which still account for about 75% percent worldwide—and reaffirmed MINEM’s commitment to promoting sustainable use of these resources.
