As of February 2018, Costa Rica had an installed solar capacity of 27 MW, which is equivalent to only 0.76% of the equipment interconnected in the National Electric System.
According to a study carried out by the Costa Rican Solar Energy Association (Acesolar), whose final results will be published next month, Costa Rica is lagging behind in the use of solar energy, even compared to other Central American countries.
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.
The sugar mill union could be investing $160 million in energy generation projects that use ethanol and in the construction of a biomass-based power plant.
Without giving further details, members of the sugar trade union reported that they are planning to build a biomasspower generation plant in the short term, which could be the most modern one in Central America.
While one candidate is willing to review the limits on private electricity cogeneration, and raise them from 15% to 30%, the other rejects the possibility of extracting natural gas due to its environmental implications.
In a meeting with companies in the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (ICRC), the two candidates who will go head to head in a second round of voting on April 1, shared their proposals to deal with issues of great importance to the industrial sector, such as electricity rates and the opening up of the electricity market, as well as the management of procedures in State institutions.
In the Dominican Republic, the construction of a solar farm has began, which in its first stage will provide 25 MW, and once it is operational, a further 25 MW.
Through its subsidiary Emerald Solar Energy, the companies Potentia Renewables and Cisneros started the construction of the photovoltaic generation plant in Vicente Noble, Barahona.
In the last 20 years sugar mills in Guatemala increased their energy generation from 160 MW to 700 MW, and currently their contribution is equivalent to 27% of the energy matrix.
The union for the sector estimates that over the last decades mills have invested around $820 million in the generation of electric power.
With these investments yields have improved, as according to figures from the Association of Independent Cogenerators of Guatemala (ACI) for " ... every ton of ground cane, the mills used to be able to generate 44 kilowatt hours (kWh), but with the research development they generate 91 kWh."
In 2017, electric energyexports totaled $103 million, 104% more than was sold in 2017, reversing the falls registered in the two previous years.
According to figures from the Banco de Guatemala, over the past year the country sold abroad a monthly average $8.5 million worth of electricity, with the Central American region being the main destination market.
Construction projects for water treatment plants, and extensions to the Metro and the airport, are works that will considerably increase demand for electricity in the coming years.
A group of entrepreneurs from Canada will be visiting the country to explore business opportunities in different areas and present an investment plan for renewable energy.
The Ortega administration explained that the businessmen will meet with their counterparts from the local tourism sector and the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute.
The state electricity transmission company is considering not holding any more special tenders for generators that use renewable resources, which will have to compete with all types of generators.
Representatives from the Electricity Transmission Company (Etesa) reported that with the modifications that are being made to the law, in future tenders for energy supply will compete with all other kinds of generation forms.
Using funds from the government of South Korea, the plan is to implement the second phase of the energy program with solar panels in communities in the Caribbean area.
Elnuevodiario.com.ni reports that "...The Korean Embassy in Managua has confirmed a new investment of US $23 millionto support the second phase of the solar energy generation program, which aims to benefit some 17,000 families and 380 schools with the installation of solar panels in isolated communities in the Caribbean in Nicaragua."
The international loans approved by the Assembly will be used for the construction of a hospital, water and sanitation works and for the electrification and renewable energy program.
From a statement issued by from the National Assembly:
Environmental impact studies have been submitted for the construction of a park for the generation of wind energy and another one for solar energy, both of 20MW of power.
Data from the interactive information system "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.
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.
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