Peru’s wind & solar output rises 17% in Feb 2016

March 30, 2016

Peru’s Ministry of Energy announced that wind and solar energy output increased by 17.4% in February 2016. Hydropower plants and geothermal plants also saw an increase in energy output.

Seven companies win Mexico electricity auction

March 29, 2016

Winners of Mexico’s first long-term electricity auction were announced this week. Companies awarded contracts will ultimately provide 5,385.72 GW of energy, nearly 90% of the country’s future energy supply. Businesses include Recurrent Energy Mexico Development, Parque Eólico Reynosa III, Sunpower Systems México, Energía Renovable del Istmo II, Enel Green Power, Gestamp Wind México II and Alten […]

Could Mexico become a geothermal giant?

March 27, 2016

Mexico, the world’s fifth-largest producer of geothermal energy, is home to promising near-the-surface geothermal fields, says the U.S. Geological Survey.     At present, Mexico’s geothermal plants produce 980 MW of power, about 1.6% of the nation’s electricity. Several companies are currently working with Mexico’s government to explore opportunities for future geothermal projects. While Mexico […]

Jamaica: New Fortress approved to supply gas for Old Harbour power plant

March 26, 2016

JPS president and CEO Kelly Tomblin announced that an agreement was signed with New Fortress Energy to supply gas for a 190 MW power plant at Old Harbour, St. Catherine. The plant, which will replaced JPS’ oil-burning plant, will be constructed with Power China. The final details will be finalized in early April. The plant […]

35 companies submit bids to construct St. Lucia solar farm

March 26, 2016

St. Lucia Electricity Service Ltd’s RFP for the construction of a 3 MW solar farm resulted in bids from 35 companies. Participants at the meeting were given an overview of the project and its importance to St. Lucia, information on St. Lucia’s energy transition strategy and the RFP process. LUCELEC’s Business Development Manager, Victor Emmanuel, […]

155 MW of wind approved in Chile despite violation of indigenous rights

March 24, 2016

The Temucuicui Mapuche community of Chile announced its strong opposition to a 155 MW wind farm. The group said that the farm constitutes “plundering, attack and usurpation” of ancestral territory. The community’s announcement was released after Chile’s Environmental Evaluation Service fave the go-ahead for the wind farm to be built on this territory. The Temucuicui community […]

Renewable energy in 2015 surpassed conventional power, say UNEP

March 24, 2016

2015 saw a $286 billion investment in clean energy. The result? 134 GW of renewable power. This is up from 106 GW of renewables installed in 2014 and 87 GW in 2013. A report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) this week called ‘Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016’ said that an […]

Green economy generates jobs

March 23, 2016

The government of Jamaica and the United Nations Environment Program released a study this week that links the green economy to development and job creation. Focusing on agriculture, tourism, construction, energy, & water and sewage, the paper links long-term development goals to creating policies that integrate sustainability and efficiency into each sector of the economy. […]

Cuba and the US to collaborate on renewable energy

March 21, 2016

  On the table for discussion during President Obama’s visit to Cuba this week was Cuba’s antiquated grid. Cuba is one of few remaining countries to burn crude oil to produce its electricity. A nation of juxtapositions, over the past decade the Cuban government implemented initiatives to replace light-bulbs, inefficient appliances and install solar panels. […]