55% of the energy generated between January and May this year came from renewable sources, wind power having the largest contribution, followed by geothermal, with 15% of the total.
Nicaragua's great potential to generate energy from renewable sources is reflected in the figures for the first 5 months of this year, showing the results of investment in wind farms and geothermal plants.
Twelve hydroelectric plants and seven wind parks are scheduled to start operations in the next three years, having capacity to generate up to 800 MW.
Of the 19 projects spread across the country, 15 will be implemented by private producers and cooperatives. The largest project, the Reventazón hydroelectric dam, with a capacity to generate 307 MW and supply 525,000 homes, is being developed by the state-owned Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). This entity is also carrying out the expansion of the Cachi and Rio Macho dams with an approximate generation of 20 MW and 53 MW, respectively.
There are dozens of large and small power generation projects in various stages of implementation that run parallel with the growth of energy demand.
The list of energy projects is led by the Chan II hydroelectric station which is expected generate 220 MW and will begin operations in 2019. It is followed by 13 independent hydroelectric projects that are already under construction and which together will add 200 MW to the system from 2014 to 2015.
Unión Eólica Panameña has been authorized to hand over to UEP Penonomé II the final license to build and operate the 115 MW wind farm in Nuevo Chagres.
From a resolution given by the National Authority of Public Services:
RESOLVES:
FIRST: AUTHORIZING the company UNIÓN EÓLICA PANAMEÑA, S.A. to assign to the company UEP PENONOME II, SA, the final license for the construction, operation, maintenance, generation and sale of the wind power project called NUEVO CHAGRES, granted by Resolution AN No. 4094-Elec of December 15, 2010 and its amendments.
With an investment by the U.S. company Interenergy Holdings the Penonomé wind farm will increase its generation capacity to 215 MW.
Marking its return to Panamanian energy market, Interenergy signed an agreement with Unión Eolica Panameña S.A. to invest $427 million in the Penonomé wind farm, making it the largest wind power project in Central America and the Caribbean, with a capacity to generate 215 MW of clean energy.
Unión Eólica Panameña has received authorization to concede to UEP Penonomé II the definitive license to build and operate the Portobelo Ballestillas wind farm.
From a resolution given by the National Authority of Public Services:
IT IS RESOLVED:
FIRST: AUTHORIZING the company UNIÓN EÓLICA PANAMEÑA, S.A., to assign to the company UEP PENONOME II, SA, the final license for the construction, operation, maintenance, generation and sale of energy from the wind project known as PORTOBELO BALLESTILLAS, granted by Resolution AN No. 4092-Elec of December 15, 2010 and its amendments.
Innovent Central America has obtained a provisional license for the installation and operation of a 136 MW wind power plant in the village of Líbano, District of Chame.
Extract from the resolution issued by the National Authority of Public Services:
"FIRST: GRANT for corporation INNOVENT CENTRAL AMERICA, SA, registered to Public Record Listing 614085, Document 1336614, a provisional license for construction and operation of wind resources in the LOS MANGLARES project, to be located in the districts of Libano and Punta Chame, Chame district, province of Panama, with an installed capacity of 136 MW. The exploration area is within the polygon UTM-NAD-27 whose coordinates are described below, and corresponds to the License Registration Certificate No. 176-14.
With four wind farms set up in the department of Rivas, the country is exploiting only 23% of a potential of 800 megawatts.
Although $417 million has already been invested in the construction of new wind farms in the country, there is still ample room to install more and take advantage of this kind of renewable energy generation.
"Nicaragua is a viable country in Central America for the development of wind energy, but only 23.2% of a potential of 800 Megawatts is being exploited, with four plants installed in the department of Rivas, according to the country's energy sector."
IC Power has acquired two power plants based on bunker fuel and two using wind power through its subsidiary Inkia Energy.
The company of Israeli origin with market presence in the Central American market signed with AEI Power a contract to purchase four power plants capable of generating 185 MW.
From a press release by IC Power Group:
"The total capacity is approximately 185 MW, including a wind farm capable of generating 63MW.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration will provide a loan for the construction of a wind project on a site in San Antonio Villa Canales.
From a statement issued by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE):
"The project involves the design, construction, installation and operation of a wind farm with 50.0MW of installed capacity, which includes the installation of up to 16 wind turbines, distributed and placed according to the results of the micro-siting analysis, with the aim of optimizing the available wind resources. "
The delayed construction of the wind power project to generate 50 MW in San Marcos will be funded by international banks.
The Dutch Development Bank (FMO) announced that five international financial institutions have provided loans for $127.5 million to finance a 50 MW wind power project in San Marcos. The project is owned by Vientos de Electrotecnia, a member of the Terra Group and includes the installation of 25 Gamesa wind turbines.
There are now twenty companies, both Salvadoran and from other countries that have purchased bidding rules for the supply of energy.
About 20 companies have acquired the bidding rules for the supply of 100 MW of power to be contracted out with two technologies of generation; they are 60 MW using photovoltaic systems and 40 MW using wind power.
Luis Reyes, executive secretary of the National Energy Council (CNE) said that "there are companies from different countries, including Spanish, Italian, German and Salvadoran. Companies are very interested in this tender . We have received a lot of inquiries from companies."
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency has provided a guarantee of $82.4 million for a 24 MW expansion in the Cerro de Hula wind farm.
The institution of the World Bank Group which offers insurance against political risks and credit enhancement mechanisms, has provided a guarantee of investment to support the expansion of 24 MW at the Cerro de Hula wind farm, which has an existing capacity of 102 MW.
The start of full operation of the first wind farm in Panama will be postponed until November 2014 .
The Penonomé Wind Farm, under construction by Unión Eólica Panameña (EPU ), has been set back by at least five months, confirmed the Energy Secretary Vicente Prescott. The project should have been ready in June but delays mean that it will be made operational later this year.
By the end of 2014 the Spanish company Gamesa expects to complete the construction of a 50 MW wind farm in the province of Guanacaste.
From a press release by Gamesa:
Gamesa, a global technology leader in the wind industry, has signed a contract, in Costa Rica, for construction, supplies and turnkey installation of a 50 MW wind farm with Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy (GME).