This report explores how regional energy integration can unlock a more resilient, cost-efficient, and sustainable energy future. As a central pillar of the Just Energy Transition, integration enables countries to balance supply and demand across borders, reduce system costs, and scale up renewable energy deployment. The report has been developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) within the framework of the Regional Forum of Energy Planners (FOREPLEN) and in partnership with GET.transform.
Through scenario-based analysis, the paper evaluates impacts across four dimensions: energy security, socioeconomic development, environmental sustainability, and technological cooperation. In South America, integration delivers measurable gains under both current policy trajectories and an ambitious renewable scenario targeting 87% clean electricity by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. Economic benefits increase fourfold when renewable expansion is paired with cross-border integration, reaching up to 0.12% of regional GNP. At the same time, emissions fall by around 40% compared to a renewables-only pathway.
Beyond numbers, integration opens the door to shared infrastructure, stronger regional markets, and coordinated innovation. The message is clear: deeper cooperation is essential.
The report provides recommendations to build into this direction, through further analyses of the economic impact of binational interconnections (e.g., between Columbia and Ecuador, Columbia and Panama or Mexico and Guatemala). It also advises strengthening regional platforms such as FOREPLEN, CELAC, SICA, CAN, OLACDE and to develop regional financing windows for engineering and construction of interconnections.
Download the full report (in Spanish): Energy Integration in Latin America: Progress, Scenarios and Recommendations | ECLAC
