In El Salvador during 2021, AES announced that it plans to invest between $60 and $75 million in the development of new solar energy projects and works in the distribution network.
As of April 2021, the Ventus wind power plant, an electricity generation park with an installed capacity of 54 MW, will begin operating in El Salvador.
The new power generation park, which has 15 wind turbines of 120 meters high each, is located in the municipality of Metapan, Department of Santa Ana.
From January to June 2019, 52 environmental impact studies were presented to carry out works on electricity networks and build power generation plants in different areas of Central American countries.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
During 2018, 39 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region to build energy generating plants and work on electricity grids, projects estimated at $455 million.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
Of the 28 MW of renewable energy tendered in El Salvador, only 8.48 MW were awarded, because most of the participants exceeded the maximum price established by Siget.
On March 11, DELSUR held the opening ceremony of the tender process for the generation of 28 MW of photovoltaic energy and with biogas, of which 8.48 MW were awarded in projects representing a $10 million investment.
In Central America and the Dominican Republic, the installed capacity of energy generation reaches nearly 20,000 MW, of which 62% correspond to clean sources.
Figures compiled by the Latin American Energy Organization (Olade) indicate that by 2017 the installed capacity of clean or renewable energy generators, including wind, hydro, solar and geothermal, exceeds non-renewable sources.
In El Salvador, 18 proposals were submitted for the tender of 28 MW of non-conventional renewable energy, of which 12 correspond to solar projects and 6 to biogas-based generation projects.
With no details of the participating companies, it was reported that the 18 technical and economic proposals were presented on December 19 in the morning to the DELSUR authorities.
Lack of legal certainty, electricity theft and social conflicts are forcing businessmen in Guatemala's energy sector to choose to relocate their investments to El Salvador.
Last year, the companies Applied Energy Services (AES) and Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), both US and Guatemalan capital, decided to invest $47 million in solar energy projects, encouraged by the facilities offered to the energy sector in El Salvador.
In El Salvador, at least 16 companies have registered as bidders in the tender for 28 MW of non-conventional renewable energy, for distributed solar generation and generation using biogas.
Without giving more details about the interested companies, it was reported that more than 16 investors have registered as bidders for technical and financial projects for alternative energy generation.
In El Salvador, 28 MW of non-conventional renewable solar and biogas-based energy for distributed generation will be put out to tender, and the presentation of offers is scheduled for December.
The Salvadoran government reported that "...The total power to be tendered is 28 Megawatts, of which 20 Megawatts correspond to solar photovoltaic and 8 Megawatts to Biogas, the winners will be hired for a period of 15 years and are expected to start operations from the year 2020 and 2021 respectively."
Last year, 87 environmental impact studies were submitted in the countries in the region, for the construction of power generation plants and works on electricity networks.
Panama is the country in the region where the largest investment is concentrated, with an approximate $1.29 billion in energy projects, corresponding to 32 environmental impact studies submitted to the Ministry of the Environment between January and December 2017.
The plant that AES El Salvador has inaugurated in La Union, required a $160 million investment, and has 44 thousand polycrystalline-type photovoltaic modules, in an area of 149 sqm.
Pasaquina is the first of ten solar power generation plants that AES El Salvador and Corporación Multi Inversiones plan to build in the three phases of the project. It is expected that the plants will start operations gradually over the next two years.
From June 5 to 9, companies from the energy industry will be gathering together in San Pedro Sula to take part in business conferences and discuss issues that are relevant to the sector.
The initiative is being run by state entities and the private sector, and will take place between June 5 and 9 at the Convention Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés (CCIC) in San Pedro Sula.
With 19% endemic poverty, 10% open unemployment and 40% informal employment, and some of the highest electricity rates in the region, Costa Rica is opposed to $1 billion in clean energy investments.
EDITORIAL
By Jorge Cobas González
Meanwhile, the bureaucracy of state-owned companies continues to prescribe first-world remuneration, and continues to protect its privileges following ECLAC development concepts from the middle of the last century, which are utterly out of place today.Because Costa Rica does not have the investment capacity or know-how necessary for the development of latest generation renewable energy projects, even though it has all of the necessary primary conditions: sun, wind, thermal energy.
The power plant that will supply the American Industrial Park free zone, consists of 15,497 modules that are located on six roofs of the industrial complex.
The new solar power plant that is located in the industrial park in Ciudad Arce, department of La Libertad, is expected to expand its power to 12MW this year.