Technology Showcase: From Vision to Scale: Meeting the Region’s Clean Firm Power and Digital Demand
From small modular reactors and green hydrogen to geothermal and long-duration storage, new firm-power technologies are redefining how Latin America and the Caribbean can meet growing energy and digital infrastructure needs. This showcase explores which solutions can realistically reach scale first—assessing regional readiness in cost, technical know-how, political clarity, and regulatory support, while examining how the clean energy transition aligns with rising data center and industrial demand.
1.45 – 2.20 | Nuclear Momentum on the Rise for Latin America?
Latin America’s nuclear legacy is moving toward a new generation of modular and flexible technologies. What role could small modular reactors (SMRs) play in supplying clean, round-the-clock power for grids, industry, and digital facilities? How can regional cooperation and regulatory innovation accelerate adoption while addressing safety and finance concerns?
2.20 – 3.00 |Green Hydrogen: Building A Viable Ecosystem
The region’s renewable wealth positions it to become a global player in hydrogen production, but bankability and offtake remain key barriers. What’s needed to move beyond pilot projects and realize the potential of green hydrogen to support grids and growing industry energy demands?
3.00 – 3.30 | Geothermal: Scaling a Tried and Tested Technology
Geothermal stands out as a proven clean baseload solution capable of meeting 24/7 energy needs for digital infrastructure, industrial clusters, and critical facilities. How can new financing structures, and collaboration with the oil & gas expertise, drive faster development? What regional steps are needed to position geothermal as the preferred clean firm power for data centers and AI-driven growth?
3.30– 4.00 | Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) – Can it Deliver Reliability for the Region’s Abundant Intermittent Resources?
Latin America and the Caribbean boast world-class solar and wind potential—but intermittency remains a structural barrier to 24/7 reliability. Can long-duration storage provide the missing link to stabilize grids and power digital and industrial growth? How can LDES technologies—pumped hydro, compressed air, thermal, and advanced batteries—fit regional conditions, and how policy and market frameworks can unlock investment to pair renewables with round-the-clock, firm energy delivery.