El Niño puts Colombia on the edge of an energy crisis

March 19, 2016

This year’s El Niño have put Colombia at the edge of an energy crisis. Damage to one of the country’s largest hydroelectric dams and unseasonable droughts, which provides nearly 10% of Colombia’s energy, increased the gravity of the crisis. Colombia’s Mining and Energy Ministry proposed a bill to provide financial incentives for each kw of […]

Caribbean lagging in shift to renewable energy, says CDB

March 19, 2016

In a lecture titled ‘Regulating Utilities in Small Island Developing States – Lessons for the Caribbean,’ Dr. Warren Smith, President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) said that the Caribbean is slow in its shift towards renewable energy. While there are regional targets to source 20% of energy from renewables by 2017 and 28% by 2022, the […]

Saft provides lithium-ion batteries for Puerto Rican solar plant

March 18, 2016

Saft will provide energy storage for a 10 MW PV facility in Puerto Rico. The 20P lithium-ion batteries will allow the facility to store energy produced during the day, when energy demand is lower, and distribute it in the evening during peak-demand times. Saft business development manager Jim McDowall said: “In remote locations and islands, […]

Mexico heading for dramatic wind additions in 2017-18

March 17, 2016

In 2015, Mexico installed over 700 MW of new wind projects. According to the Mexican Wind Energy Association (AMDEE), Mexico ended 2015 by passing the 3,000 MW mark in wind power capacity. An additional 800 MW of wind power projects are planned for 2016. With the help of the Energy Transition Law, which commits to reaching […]

Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre is leading the regional response to climate change

March 16, 2016

Established in 2014, the Caribbean Climate Innovation Center (CCIC) seeks to develop a regionally integrated approach to solving the region’s climate, energy and resource challenges. CCIC’s CEO, Evertron Hanson, says that the organization takes an entrepreneurial approach to addressing these issues, “The purpose of this project is to build an entrepreneurial eco system that will […]

Cementos Argos to contribute 10% of Colombian energy savings goal

March 16, 2016

Colombian cement company, Cementos Argos, has signed on board to reduce its energy consumption. The company will put excess energy produced at its varies sites back into the grid. Additionally, use of cement mills will be limited during peak hours. Through these changes, Cementos Argos will save the equivalent of energy needed to power 130,000 […]

Bolivian Legislature approves construction of 50mw solar system

March 15, 2016

Last Thursday, Bolivia’s Legislative Assembly approved the construction of a 50 MW solar system by the state-owned utility Empresa Nacional de Energia’s (ENDE). The project will be supported by 67 million USD in funding from the French Development Agency (AFD). Once completed, the PV plant will generate 106 Gwh annually.   Read more here.

Guyana launches energy project

March 15, 2016

In an effort to electrify the 80% of rural areas in Guyana that have no electricity, Guyana’s Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Multilateral Investment Fund and CARISBSAVE have partnered to implement the Sustainable Business Models for Rural Electrification and Energy Access project. The program will electrify 6,000 homes across 25 communities through solar power.   […]

Chile approves 600+ MW of renewable energy

March 14, 2016

The Chilean government approved the construction of a 600 MW PV system and a number of smaller systems this week. Approved projects include: Project (technology) Capacity Investment Cielos de Tarapaca (PV) 600 MW USD 1bn Planta Fotovoltaica La Esperanza (PV) 9 MW USD 18m Planta Fotovoltaica Marchigue (PV) 9 MW USD 18m Mini Central Hidroelectrica […]