With capacity to generate up to 17,58 MW the hydroelectric plant in Bijagua in Upala, Alajuela province has started operating.
From a statement issued by the President of Costa Rica:
Bijagua, Upala April 14, 2016. The cooperative Electrificación Rural de Guanacaste has started operating its new Bijagua hydroelectric plant, located in the canton of Upala, Alajuela province, which will power 21,000 homes.
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.
If the Brazilian consortium confirms its resignation of the Tumarín project, Nicaragua will have start a new process in order to tender the project which is indispensable for the country's development.
The construction of the hydropower station has been surrounded by secrecy and lack of transparency, conflicts of interest, legal and political uncertainty and cases of corruption in the investor's country.
Polaris Energy has announced an investment of $43 million in drilling new wells to increase generation capacity from 50 to 72 MW.
The company Polaris Geothermal Energy is aiming to increase its production capacity in Nicaragua and go from 50-72 MW of power. The information was confirmed by the CEO of the company, Alex Orono, during an appearance before the board of the Chamber of Industries of Nicaragua (Cadin), confirmed Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
The state run electricity company reported that the first turbine in the Reventazón Hydroelectric Project of 73 MW went into operation in 2016 and that it will launch the other 4 generators.
The long-awaited entry into service of the Reventazon hydroelectric plant promises to bring some relief to electricity rates which in recent years have been a factor of concern in the manufacturing sector in Costa Rica, as well as putting the country back on the path chosen decades ago towards a clean energy matrix.
The Panamanian Chamber of Solar Energy is inviting domestic and foreign companies in the sector to join this new union.
From a statement issued by the Panamanian Chamber of Solar Energy:
Panama March 16, 2016. A group of leading entrepreneurs in the clean and renewable energy sector have announced the creation of the Panamanian Chamber of Solar Energy (Solar Chamber) with the purpose of promoting solar energy in the country.
In January, the national installed capacity amounted to 2,549 MW, with 26% of it hydro power with reservoir technology, 32% from run of the river hydro, 34% thermal, 7% wind and the rest photovoltaic.
The National Authority of Public Services released figures that summarize the behavior of the electricity market in Panama in January 2016.
A private sector union is convening a symposium on economic and energy perspectives on 8 March in the country.
The symposium is being sponsored by the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and the Chamber of Energy in Nicaragua (CEN) together with the NGO known as the Council of the Americas.
Trincheraonline.com reports that "... the economic panel of the symposium will include Mr.
Construction of photovoltaic systems are part of the list of projects in the energy sector for which environmental impact studies were presented in December 2015.
The report entitled "Construction Projects in Panama - December 2016", prepared by the Business Intelligence unit at CentralAmericaData.com, provides a detailed list of major construction projects for which environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies were presented to the Ministry of Environment in December.
The Salvadoran Industry Association is convening the third Regional Energy Congress on 20, 21 and 22 of July at the Sheraton Hotel in San Salvador.
From a statement issued by the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists (ASI):
The Congress is a coordinated effort by multiple actors and aims to promote a space to raise the discussion of the topic of energy at the highest level and to publicize the latest developments in the Regional Electricity Market (MER), renewable energy and energy management.
In Costa Rica, companies are reporting savings on their electricity bill of up to 30% after having migrated to biomass as a fuel source, and they are demanding legislation that favors its use.
The orange juice producer Del Oro in Costa Rica, achieved savings of up to 28% through the use of a biomass boiler that was installed in 2010, compared to what it cost to maintain it using bunker fuel.
MCA - Honduras is pre qualifying companies to build and operate a 20 MW hydroelectric plant on the site of Multipurpose Dam El Tablon.
Honduras Government Purchase PR-01-EL-2016 TABLON:
"The prequalification documents apply for prequalification of participants in the award for the right to use water, structures and state land for the construction of a dam for 4 years and operation for 25 years of a hydroelectric plant with a view to producing 20 MW of electricity at the site of the Multipurpose Dam El Tablon.
The private sector is complaining that they were not consulted over the recent amendment to the regulations governing power generation and that it favors the Sandinista holding, involving changes in contracts which have already been signed.
Ministerial Agreement 144-A issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines on February 19 in La Gaceta modifies, among other things, definitions of dispatchable and non-dispatchable generators, as well as the characteristics required for their operation. See Agreement in full.
On 24 February in Managua a group of Canadian companies will be meeting with local entrepreneurs to evaluate investment opportunities in the energy sector.
Representatives of the Canadian Embassy in Nicaragua announced that Canadian entrepreneurs will be visiting Managua with an interest in investment options in the energy sector, particularly in renewable energy. The meeting will be on February 24 at a hotel in the capital.