In Panama a project is being developed that aims to promote the use of water heaters that use solar energy, through means of international and national financing.
Local authorities reported that in order to carry out the project, the Global Environment Fund will contribute $1.9 million, and the Ministry of Environment, Panama Green Building Council, the Technological University of Panama, the UN and the General Bank will disburse another $8.1 million.
In the first six months of the year, electricity consumption in Panama reported an increase of 3.2% compared to the same period in the previous year.
According to figures from the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic, between the first half of 2017 and the same period in 2018, the country reported an increase in electricityconsumption, rising from 5,200,849 thousand Kwh to 5,366,318 thousand Kwh.
The union for the sector stated that in the next months 180 MW of wind energy and 58 MW of solar energy will become part of the country's energy matrix.
Representatives from the Dominican Electrical Industry Association (ADIE) announced that in the remainder of 2018 five projects, representing an investment of around $500 million, will start operating.
In Panama, the 18 photovoltaic generation plants that together have an installed capacity of 143 MW, are still waiting for the government to grant new contracts.
According to statistics from the National Energy Secretariat, last year the country had an installed generation capacity of 3,423 MW, of which 4% corresponded to solar energy parks.
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In the Dominican Republic it has been reported that future renewable energy generation projects will be decided on by the government and then put out to tender.
Concessions for renewable energy generation projects will be carried out by means of a tender, gradually moving away from using power purchase agreements (PPA), said the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Mem).
In El Salvador, Energía del Pacifico has announced that it has met the requirements to obtain financing, and that it will start construction of the plant in the third quarter of the year.
Panamanian authorities have declared the deadline passed for Panama NG Power to present evidence of economic backing for the construction of the 670 MW natural gas plant.
During the first four months of the year, 64% of electricity was generated from hydraulic sources, 21% from thermal, 10% from wind, 2% from solar and 2% was from self-generation.
According to the most recent figures from the Comptroller General of Panama, in April 2018, 908 million kwh were generated, equivalent to an increase of 3.3% compared to the 879 million supplied in the same month in 2017.
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."
Due to the controversy that has arisen, the ASEP has decided to exclude from the discussion of adjustments to the Tariff Regime the proposal to tax the use of solar panels for self-consumption purposes.
Although the imposition of a fee for the use of solar panels for self-consumption purposes has been removed from the discussion, the Public Services Authority (Asep) stated that the 60-day deadline to receive comments on the subject is still valid.
Arguing that consumers will have energy availability even if they do not use it, in Panama a proposal has been made to tax the use of solar panels for purposes of self-consumption.
Due to the disagreements caused by the proposal which proposes establishing a fee for using of solar panels for self-consumption, arguing that the consumer has the possibility of using the national energy distribution network, the Public Services Authority (Asep) has decided extend the consultation period by 60 days.
The new Minister of Environment and Energy in Costa Rica is opposed to the Diquís project, which the state electricity company has been promoting for ten years, and which consists of building a hydroelectric generation plant in Puntarenas.
While the new leaders of the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) announced their intention to refloat the project, which due to unconstitutionality appeals filed against it has remained on paper for years, the Ministry of Environment and Energy has declared its opposition, stating that "... there are no studies or other assessments on the social and economic impact that justify the declaration of national convenience given to the project a decade ago."
Of the 2.4 million megawatt hours generated in the first quarter of the year in Honduras, 36% came from water sources.
According to figures from the National Electric Power Company (Enee), in the first quarter of 2018 thermal plants supplied the system with 581 thousand megawatt hours, which is equivalent to 25% of the total.
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 energyprojects, corresponding to 32 environmental impact studies submitted to the Ministry of the Environment between January and December 2017.
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