With the entry into operation of the fourth phase of the Renace hydroelectric complex in Alta Verapaz, the project has reached a generation capacity of 301 MW.
Representatives of Corporación de Multiinversiones (CMI), owner of the energy project Recursos Naturales y Celulosas (Renace), explained that the fourth phase of the project began testing in September 2018 and went into commercial operation in January of this year.
Of the 28 MW of renewable energy tendered in El Salvador, only 8.48 MW were awarded, because most of the participants exceeded the maximum price established by Siget.
On March 11, DELSUR held the opening ceremony of the tender process for the generation of 28 MW of photovoltaic energy and with biogas, of which 8.48 MW were awarded in projects representing a $10 million investment.
In Costa Rica, the supply and installation of photovoltaic equipment at 132 traffic lights of the centralized system is being tendered.
Costa Rica Government Purchase 2019LN-000007-0058700001:
"The solution should provide power to traffic light systems using photovoltaic solar energy and only use the public grid if solar radiation is not enough. In other words, the public grid will act as an auxiliary source.
In Costa Rica, the state-owned electricity company ICE is evaluating the renegotiation of prices and conditions in power purchase contracts with private generation companies.
The adjustments planned by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) in contracts with private generators are based on the need to reduce costs and adapt prices and quantities purchased to current demand conditions and the availability of resources to generate energy.
In Central America and the Dominican Republic, the installed capacity of energy generation reaches nearly 20,000 MW, of which 62% correspond to clean sources.
Figures compiled by the Latin American Energy Organization (Olade) indicate that by 2017 the installed capacity of clean or renewable energy generators, including wind, hydro, solar and geothermal, exceeds non-renewable sources.
Ventus S.A. de C.V., which will invest in the construction of the first wind farm in El Salvador, will enjoy tax exemptions in its investment plans and operation for 20 years.
The Guatemalan and Honduran capital company, Ventus, will invest $73 million over 10 years in the construction of a wind farm with a capacity of 54 MW, and the tax benefits that will be granted result from the signing of a Legal Stability contract for Investments.
On a 98-hectare site in the province of Chiriquí, InterEnergy launched a solar park with a generating capacity of 40 MW, which required a $48 million investment.
The new power generation park, called Ikakos, will transport the electricity produced to the Mata de Nance substation through a 13.7-kilometre-long transmission line.
According to company representatives, the new power plant located in David has 138,960 solar panels and will contribute 84.58 GW per hour to Panama's energy matrix.
Because of the behavior of the energy supply from renewable sources, between 2017 and 2018 electricity generation increased by 2%.
The latest report of the General Comptroller of Panama, details that in 2018 were generated 10,783 million kwh, which is equivalent to a 1.8% increase over the 10,597 million offered in 2017.
In Panama, bank credit for power generation projects grew 39% by November 2018, and the increase was mainly due to loans for clean energy projects.
According to the latest report of the Superintendence of Banks, in November last year the portfolio of loans granted to the country's industrial sector totaled $3.309 million, equivalent to a 30% increase over the $2.537 million reported in November 2017.
In El Salvador, 18 proposals were submitted for the tender of 28 MW of non-conventional renewable energy, of which 12 correspond to solar projects and 6 to biogas-based generation projects.
With no details of the participating companies, it was reported that the 18 technical and economic proposals were presented on December 19 in the morning to the DELSUR authorities.
In the Dominican Republic, a definitive concession was granted to Levital Group Inversor for the development of a photovoltaic project in the city of Azua, with a $45 million estimated investment.
From the press release of the National Energy Commission:
December 13th, 2018. The Dominican Government, through the National Energy Commission, granted a definitive concession for the development of a photovoltaic project in the city of Azua, with an investment amount of US$45 million and with the capacity to generate 40 nominal MW. Signing the Concession Contract oversaw the Executive Director of the CNE, Ángel Canó, while Levital Group Inversor was represented by Jaime Llinares Leicht.
In the first nine months of 2018, 33 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region to develop energy generating plants and work on electricity grids.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
The fourth phase of the Renace hydroelectric plant in the Alta Verapaz department, Guatemala, was completed, so it will be supplying 55 MW more to the national system.
In October 2015, phase four of the Renace hydroelectric project received definitive authorization for the use of public property, such as the Canlich and Cahabón rivers for 50 years.
During the first ten months of the year, 72% of the electricity was generated with hydraulic sources, 20% thermal, 5% wind, 2% solar and 1% self-generation.
According to the most recent figures of the General Comptroller's Office of Panama, 917 million kWh were generated in October 2018, which is equivalent to a decrease of 2.3% with respect to the 939 million offered in the same month of 2017.
In El Salvador, twelve renewable energy generation projects with a total capacity of 23 MW are preparing to start operations between 2018 and 2020.
The National Energy Council (CNE) reported that the dozen energy generation projects, which will begin operations in the period between 2018, 2019 and 2020, will have the capacity to supply electricity to 771.350 households in the country.