As part of the problems related to the regional market's lack of regulation, Guatemala does not enable the flow of Mexican energy through its territory towards the south of the isthmus.
EDITORIAL
Electricity imported from Mexico has a lower cost than that produced in Guatemala, which would allow it to be re-sold -or sell the energy produced from plants installed in their territory- to the rest of Central America, with a profit, because up to now electricity toll rates for using the SIEPAC have not been determined.
An announcement has been made that the commission studying the country's energy mix will have a proposal ready in April 2015, but the rate will remain "stable" until at least the first quarter of 2016.
Although the government anticipates that by April 2015 they will have a proposal on the subject, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Edgar Gutierrez, said "...
The business sector is proposing removing the limits on the participation of the private sector in renewable energy and eliminating the price "floor" in auctions of new projects.
From a statement issued by the Union of Chambers and Associations of the private business sector (Uccaep):
• Sector will participate in roundtable discussions on electricity convened by the Ministry of Environment and Energy.
Municipalities in Costa Rica estimate that adoption of the regulations being prepared by the executive branch could accelerate the suspension of the moratorium in July.
The moratorium on generating energy from solid waste imposed by the government on July 11 could be lifted in late August, according to estimates by the National Association of Mayors and City Councils.
The state run power company has begun development of a management plan and the drilling of wells in the Pailas II project, the first of three plants to be developed in the northern part of the country.
With funding from the Japanese government and approved by the Legislative Assembly the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) will start to build three geothermal projects; Pailas II, Borinquen I and II in the province of Guanacaste.
The "Chiripa" park in Guanacaste consists of 33 1.5 MW wind turbines and is operated by the consortium made up of the Spanish firm ACCIONA and Grupo Ecoenergía from Costa Rica.
From a statement issued by ACCIONA Energy:
ACCIONA Energía has put the 49.5 MW Chiripa wind farm into commercial service, the company's first in Costa Rica.pa
The installation, owned by a consortium in which ACCIONA holds 65% and local partner Grupo Ecoenergía the remaining 35%, represents a total investment of US $125 million (EUR 92 million at current exchange rates).
In Costa Rica the Solis administration has decreed a national moratorium on all activities attempting to generate electricity from solid waste.
The decree signed by the Executive Branch took effect in June and prevents any entity from generating energy from waste material, as some municipalities have been doing.
Prensalibre.cr reports that according to "...Gilberto Monge, Mayor of Canton de Mora, and vice president of the Association of Mayors and Intendents (NHAI), this decree 'is a mistake, because the country can not afford to slow down the development of technology, especially when we have issues with the cost of electricity and pollution, caused by generating energy using fossil fuels.'"
Hydroelectric projects and expansion of distribution networks are part of the opportunities that Colombian Power firms are looking to take advantage of in the Isthmus.
There are now three Colombian energy sector companies that have decided to venture into Central America to be part of the development of an activity that still has much room for growth in the region.
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.
The American company Wastelectric has announced that it will invest $390 million in Costa Rica in a solid waste gasification plant to generate 45 MW per month.
The free trade zone in Coyol, Alajuela, would be the location of the processing plant measuring 40,000 m2 to recycle some 2,200 daily tons from 35 municipalities in the country. It is estimated that the energy generated from the process will be enough to supply approximately 108,000 households.
So far this year the Central American countries have sold 120 GW/h, equivalent to $20 million.
An analysis piece on Eleconomista.net shows the levels of energy consumption of the Central American countries and the ability of each of them to trade their surpluses, with generation depending, among other things, on variables such as the weather.
"Hugo Ventura, Head of the Energy and Natural Resources at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), said that energy imports for some countries "is a lifesaver" and could be kept up in the future if the conditions are not met to encourage more investment in energy or there are delays in some major projects. "
The president-elect has announced that if it is necessary he will change the restrictive approach on electricity generation by private companies promoted by the Citizens Action Party.
So far the party of the newly elected president has postulated restricting power generation by private companies to a maximum of 15% of the total generated nationwide. Luis Guillermo Solís himself had declared he was "pro-ICE" in relation to the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, the state company that dominates a quasi monopoly level of production of electricity.
A new regulation on quality of electricity includes the interconnection and operation of micro and mini generators using renewable sources for their own consumption.
It will allow users to install on their properties, wind power, biomass and / or solar equipment, in order to meet their own electricity needs and they would be able to deliver surplus production to distribution companies, to be consumed at a later date (kWh Exchange).
Generators will be prevented from exporting energy if they dont agree on a price for the country similar to the regional reference electricity price.
An article on Laprensa.hn reports that the new president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, has said they have still "not reached an agreement with the thermal utilities companies who supply power to the country.
A plan currently under analysis includes the purchase of power by state power generation companies.
In order to diversify sources of power generation, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) is analyzing, together with 14 municipalities, a plan for the purchase of energy generated using waste.
If the proposal is made reality, the ICE would purchase power generated from waste produced by productive companies and with this meet the part of demand from the municipalities involved.