In Costa Rica, 19 projects were selected as "eligible" by the state run power company, but the same institution has ruled out opening new competitions to purchase more wind-generated power.
EDITORIAL
Investment in alternative energy is risky, because it depends on uncontrollable external factors such as unpredictable weather variations, which have particular effects on hydraulics, solar and wind power.
The plan is to implement longer terms in contracts and release energy and power demand from large customers.
The Energy Plan 2015-2020 presented by the National Secretariat of Energy in Panama is broken down into two main parts: first, the Short-Term Operational Plan 2015-2019, where proposals for the period are detailed, and second, the National energy Scenarios Plan 2015-2020, including projections of fuel prices and other energy sources and demand estimates, expected changes in the energy matrix and the future role of private companies in the energy system.
In the last two years the country which is the Latin American champion in wind energy lost $63 million a year from purchasing wind MWh at $70 and having to resell it at $7.
EDITORIAL
We are in agreement with the need to contribute to the sustainability of human development on this planet, and the need to transform the energy matrix of countries in order to become less dependent on oil, but the balance of the cost of this transformation needs to be adequate, in order to avoid making the kind of mistakes committed by the government of Uruguay.
The population's increased access to electricity, the growth of irrigation systems, and buoyant economic activity explain the estimated 10% increase in demand for energy in 2015.
These factors accounted for most of the significant growth in energy demand in the country in 2015, said Cesar Zamora, country manager of IC Power and chairman of the Chamber of Energy in Nicaragua, to El Nuevo Diario.
Transmission lines in the regional SIEPAC system are being used to distribute electricity internally in countries, curtailing their capacity for international exchange of energy.
When the US President Barack Obama visited Central America in 2013, he warned that "energy costs in this region are three times what electricity costs in Washington, and that represents a huge disadvantage for companies".Two years before that, all countries, from Guatemala to Panama, were committed to creating the necessary infrastructure for the Regional Electricity Market (MER) to be efficient.
Conditions have been established the for access and interconnection by producer-consumers to the grid and the methodology used to set tariffs for use of the network.
The Energy Regulator confirmed that the proposed fees for the use of the network will be made public on 17 March, so that the ARESEP can comply on time with tasks under its responsibility, the deadline for which is 7 April.
Regional Priority Supply Contracts with the MER have come into effect, and there has been an increase in renewable energy in the generating capacity due to the entry of photovoltaic and wind power.
A preliminary report by the Wholesale Market Administrator provides a summary of results of 2015, with details of the participation in the production and consumption of energy.
In January, 72% of the energy generated nationally in the wholesale market came from renewable sources, the most noteworthy being the Chixoy hydroelectric plant, which generated 19.35% of the total.
The National Commission for Electric Energy in Guatemala published figures for the wholesale energy market in January 2016.
Of the total electricity generated in the country, 33.8% was generated from biomass, 31.42% came from hydro sources, 14.89% from coal, 12.56 from bunker fuel, 2.90% from geothermal sources, 2.53% from wind power, 1.81% from solar power, 0.05% from biogas and 0.01% from diesel.
In the next 35 years more than $11 billion will need to be invested in new projects in order to meet electricity demand, which is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 5%.
Projections by the General Secretariat of Energy also indicate the need to invest in replacing power lines every ten years, with an estimated $3 billion of investment within 35 years.
A gap in the legislation prevents large energy consumers and businesses from negotiating and buying power directly from generators.
Large energy consumers could eliminate intermediation, qualifying as market agents and buying the energy they consume directly from generators, were it not for the fact that there is no legal clarity on which is the state institution responsible for granting the authorization.
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.
Beyond the apparent financial difficulties of an indispensable regional development project, there appears to be an immovable mental stance on removing the Darien Gap.
The electrical interconnection between South and Central America and Mexico, through Colombia and Panama, is the basis for a viable system for an electricity supply which is safe from weather contingencies or other constraints on generation.
Starting from May a monthly newsletter will be available containing information on the electricity market, which will b edited by the Guatemalan Association of Exporters.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association:
As part of efforts to promote the necessary conditions for improving the competitiveness of enterprises, the Division of Competitiveness and Market Access at AGEXPORT, has launched the first edition of t'Monitor Energético'.