Last year, 87 environmental impact studies were submitted in the countries in the region, for the construction of power generation plants and works on electricity networks.
Panama is the country in the region where the largest investment is concentrated, with an approximate $1.29 billion in energy projects, corresponding to 32 environmental impact studies submitted to the Ministry of the Environment between January and December 2017.
Public consultation is being carried out on the methodology for calculating tariffs for power generation from solid waste.
The drop in oil prices and high operating costs are not the only obstacles to projects generating energy from waste in Costa Rica. Now the Regulatory Authority of Public Services is calling for a public hearing in order to "start writing" a methodology, ordinary and extraordinary, that will determine the reference rates for power plants using municipal solid waste.
On February 25 industrialists will be discussing the promotion and use of biomass and the experiences and expectations for biogas in the country.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica:
National Forum of biomass-energy: The renewable resource for improving competitiveness
The Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica in conjunction with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and 4E: Program for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Central America will be holding the Second National Energy Forum on biomass on February 25 at the Crown Plaza hotel.
From May 2016 the Ingenio San Diego plans to increase its capacity to generate power from 65 MW to 111 MW with the construction of a new generating unit.
In addition to the 10 MW of power consumed by the operation of the mill, 59 MW are uploaded to the national grid and the regional market, through which it sold 139 GWh in 2014.
Between 2007 and 2014 the share of energy generated from renewable sources in the energy matrix of the country increased from 50% to 64%, led by hydropower and biomass.
At the end of 2014 records showed that 951.7 MW was generated by hydropower, equivalent to 37% of the national electrical grid. Additionally, 101 MW of generated by wind power was consumed and 88 MW generated by solar energy.
Honduras has presented in the EIS for the expansion of a power plant based on bagasse with a required investment of $13.7 million.
The environmental impact study has been presented for the expansion of a power plant based on biomass, bagasse, cane stubble and sawdust in the town of San Juan de Flores, Francisco Morazán.
The document was presented the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Honduras by Compañía Azucarera Tres Valles on December 31. The document reports that the project will cost an estimated $13.7 million.
The state run power company estimated that starting May 2015 the cost of electricity will go down from $165 to $109 MW/h, as a result of its energy diversification.
The entry into force of contracts which were awarded in tender processes using the method of successive rounds will create a reduction of up to $56 MW / h, according to Jorge Alonso, manager of Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala (EEGSA).
The textile firm Hanes Brands has announced the construction of a power plant based on Kingras, capable of generating between 2.5 MW and 5.5 MW.
Representatives from Hanes Brands in El Salvador indicated that the purpose of the investment is "... to reduce energy demand and reduce costs. It has been estimated that the installed capacity will allow for a self-sufficiency energy level of 60% for making textiles. "
The government has ratified contracts with hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal power generators for 450 MW, 70 MW and 40 MW, respectively.
A few days before the entry into force of the new General Law on the Electricity Industry, which prevents Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica from making contracts without using a tender process, the Board of Directors of the company has approved the purchase of 560 MW.
The Monte Rosa mill will invest $100 million in a new boiler to increase the amount of power generated from bagasse from 32 to 55 MW .
The mill plans to increase the amount of energy generated based on sugar cane waste by investing in a new boiler. With this extra power, the company aims to supply about 10% of domestic demand.
"That will require an additional investment of about a hundred million dollars to install a new boiler that will allow us to grow from 6.3 million to 7.3 quintals of sugar per harvest. But the most important thing is not more sugar, but to generate more energy. We want to deliver 55 megawatt hours of clean renewable energy and have the ability to generate all year round, not just during the harvest ", said Bernardo Chamorro, general manager of Monte Rosa in an article on Laprensa.com.ni .
Nicaraguan millers are preparing investment projects that will increase their sugar production and the generation of energy from sugarcane bagasse.
However, "this industry requires the state to favor them with better incentives and other conditions that were raised in the proposed amendments to the Law on the Promotion of Renewable Electricity Generation, submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM ) ", reported Laprensa.com.ni.
In Nicaragua an announcement has been made of the application of an exceptional technology with millions invested, while in Costa Rica they are still analyzing the feasibility of producing electricity from solid waste.
EDITORIAL
The problem of the disposal of solid waste generated by the Central American populations is of singular importance. Suffice to say that in Costa Rica it has been noted that "the country spends about 1% of its gross domestic product in mobilizing, disposing of and treating solid waste in rubbish tips and landfills." ("Agreement to help Municipalities Generate Energy From Waste" - Elfinancierocr.com -13 February 2013)