The clean energy project will be developed in Panama, in an area of more than three thousand hectares, using wind turbines that will generate electricity interconnected to the national grid through a substation.
CentralAmericaData's Commercial section provides an up-to-date list of public and private construction projects that have submitted Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to the respective institutions in each country.
In the last ten years the use of renewable energy has doubled in the country, and currently sources of generation of this type represent between 65% and 70% of national consumption.
According to the authorities at the National Electricity Commission (CNEE), the stability that has been achieved in electricity rates and the lower dependence on oil derivatives, is due to the fact that the country is consuming more energy generated through renewable sources.
In the last 20 years sugar mills in Guatemala increased their energy generation from 160 MW to 700 MW, and currently their contribution is equivalent to 27% of the energy matrix.
The union for the sector estimates that over the last decades mills have invested around $820 million in the generation of electric power.
With these investments yields have improved, as according to figures from the Association of Independent Cogenerators of Guatemala (ACI) for " ... every ton of ground cane, the mills used to be able to generate 44 kilowatt hours (kWh), but with the research development they generate 91 kWh."
A new report by the Ministry of Energy and Mines provides detailed statistics on the electricity subsector, the generation matrix for 2011-2016, and data on renewable energy, among other things.
From the Introduction of the report entitled "Guatemala's New Energy Statistics Module", by the Ministry of Energy and Mines:
The purpose of this Energy Module is to show, in a synthetic way, the behavior of the main variables of the energy sector, especially the electricity subsector, which includes electricity generation by type of source and consumption of fuels used for said generation; effective installed capacity and power demand in the National Interconnected System; Supply and Consumption of electrical energy, imports and exports of energy, and electricity tariffs at the national and regional levels. Likewise, general aspects of renewable energies in electricity generation are shown, with an emphasis on solar and wind power.
In May, 56% of energy came from renewable sources, of which 72% was from hydroelectric power.
From the Energy Monitor June 2017, by Agexport: Historical Average Monthly Spot Price (US $ / KWh) The behavior of the SPOT Price for the month of May varied with respect to the previous 4 months in 2017, since at the moment it is the lowest that has been reached in the year, standing at 59.52 USD / kWh.This represents a decrease of 8% in relation to the year 2016. According to historical behavior, during the months of May, due to climatic and generation conditions, the monthly price has always been higher than the annual average.
The change in the energy matrix towards renewable sources is at risk "because of social unrest and systemic opposition to the development that Guatemala so desperately needs."
From the executive summary of the report"Impact of ungovernability and systemic opposition to renewable electricity generators and their socio economic effects locally and nationally both now and in the future 2015-2030":
On October 20th and 21st entrepreneurs from the region will gather together in Panama City to discuss issues such as the electricity market rules, new and renewable energy projects.
From a statement issued by the International Symposium on Energy:
This year the 8th. International Symposium on Energy seeks to promote spaces for reflection on energy issues, to help analyze the performance and limitations of developing new projects, build consensus, define the options for the energy market and, finally, develop a social impact using the media.
The Solis administration is opposed to the Power Contingency Act which would enable private power generation and force the state run power company to compete.
Arguing that there is no need for it because 'demand is being met," the executive branch is opposing the Contingency Power Act because" ... it would be contrary to the model of energy development in the country, contrary to what has been discussed in the discussion tables on energy."
In the view of entrepreneurs it is not enough to change the energy mix towards the renewable sources and they are proposing a long term strategy in order to compete in the region.
A proposal to create a long-term policy between business and government "..." where the private sector makes a commitment to invest in renewable energy and this energy somehow, goes to those great industries that generate employment in the country, such as the free zone ', said César Zamora, country manager of the energy company IC Power .
SMEs in developing countries could generate jobs and significant growth by taking advantage of the market opportunities offered by clean technologies.
From a report by the World Bank:
SMEs in developing countries could generate significant growth and jobs if they take advantage of market opportunities that offer clean technologies, which reach up to $1.6 trillion.
On october 15th and 16th companies from the sector will gather together in Panama City in order to discuss issues such as energy efficiency, technology and the use of renewable energy in the region.
From a statement issued by the Union of Industrialists of Panama:
Panama, September 18, 2014. The Union of Industrialists of Panama (SIP), in light of energy issues and the implementation of new regulations that will reduce the cost of energy, will be holding from 15th to 16th of October 2014, at the Hotel El Panama, the 7th International Symposium on Energy entitled: "Industry, Innovative contributions to the electricity market.
Organized by the Union of Industrialists of Panama (SIP) and the Secretary of Energy, the event will be held on 10th and 11th of October at the Hotel El Panama.
As has become traditional, this symposium will bring together more than one hundred professionals related to energy, industrial companies other economic activities, as well as representatives from public institutions.
The Development Bank of El Salvador has a credit line for replacing equipment with more efficient technology in terms of energy consumption.
The Development Bank of El Salvador (BANDESAL) has $17 million available in a credit line to grant to companies who opt to renew their equipment and use technologies which lead to energy savings.
Anel de Chahín, administrator of BANDESAL’s development program, reported that to date they have granted $10.2 million in loans to 68 companies, according to Laprensagrafica.com. "This credit line finances investments for efficient use of resources such as energy, water, waste and investing in clean energy such as hydro, wind and solar power," said the executive.
The IDB granted $660,000 to El Salvador and $600,000 to Guatemala to be managed by the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Fund Initiative (Secci).
The Government of Guatemala will invest this money to develop an Integral Energy Efficiency Plan to reduce consumption and improve the use of electric energy in the country.
El Salvador will also designed a global plan to implement energy efficiency measures which include several pilot projects.