Latin America, Caribbean to be R.E.-dependent by 2050
From EcoSeed
Latin America and the Caribbean can power itself fully with renewable energy by 2050. Photo taken from the Inter-American Development Bank’s website
According to a report commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank, Latin America and the Caribbean’s renewable energy potential is large enough to cover the region’s need for power by 2050.
The report, titled “Rethinking our Energy Future,” projects that Latin America and Caribbean’s potential for renewable energy can supply them with power enough to fulfill their 2050 needs 22 times over. This feat is made possible because of lower prices and new developments in technology that make renewable energy sources a viable alternative.
Currently, Latin America generates 1.3 petawatt-hours of electricity, a figure which will rise between 2.5 and 3.5 petawatt-hours by 2050 due to demand. Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, geothermal, solar, wave, and wind, can supply the region with over 80 petawatt-hours of electricity – 1 petawatt-hour is equivalent to 1 trillion kilowatt-hours, around 3 times the amount of power Mexico consumes in a year.
“With this study we seek to promote concrete action and public-private partnerships, by putting into perspective the magnitude of available renewable sources, outlining their broaded benefits and illustrating policy options,” said I.D.B.’s head of Climate Change Division and lead author of the report Walter Vergara.
“Renewables are becoming a viable and attractive option that needs to be explored,” I.D.B. president Luis Alberto Moreno pointed out.
Mr. Moreno said that though Latin America uses more renewable energy than any other region in the world, it is faced with a difficult decision of increasing its power generation without having to harm the environment. Another issue that Latin America must address in order to realize its potential is to modernize its policy and regulatory frameworks as well as scale up investments.
The report commissioned by I.D.B. will be presented in Bogota at the Global Green Growth Forum Latin America and the Caribbean (3GF LAC) this week.
For more on this story go to:
PHOTOS:
A solar panel is seen in this photo. Lower prices and new technologies are making solar, wind and other resources competitive with fossil fuels for power generation, according to the Inter-American Development Bank.
Windmills in operation at the Wigton Wind Farm in Manchester. (OBSERVER FILE PHOTOS)
See related story:
Brimming with renewables
From Jamaica Observer
IDB says region has enough alternative energy to fulfil 2050 electricity needs
LATIN America and the Caribbean’s renewable energy endowment is large enough to cover its projected 2050 electricity needs 22 times over, according to a new report commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The report, Rethinking our Energy Future, argues that lower prices and new technologies are making renewables a viable alternative. Solar, geothermal, wave, wind and biomass sources in this region could produce up to 80 petawatt-hour of electricity.
One petawatt-hour is equivalent to one trillion kilowatt-hour, roughly three times the amount of electricity Mexico consumes in one year. At present, Latin America generates 1.3 petawatt hour. By 2050, demand is expected to grow to between 2.5 to 3.5 petawatt- hour.
The report addresses a series of myths surrounding renewable energies, noting that several of these alternative technologies have become price competitive with conventional technologies, offer good investment opportunities and should be taken into consideration by policymakers aiming to diversify their national energy matrixes, reduce fuel supply vulnerabilities and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“Though Latin America uses more renewable energy than any other region in the world, it faces difficult choices as it seeks to generate the electricity it needs to grow without harming the environment,” said IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno. “Renewables are becoming a viable and attractive option that needs to be explored.”
The report was presented yesterday in Bogotá at the Global Green Growth Forum Latin America and the Caribbean (3GF LAC) to leaders from government, business, finance, civil society and international organisations gathered at the invitation of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, and Moreno.
“With this study, we seek to promote concrete action and public-private partnerships, by putting into perspective the magnitude of available renewable sources, outlining their broadened benefits and illustrating policy options,” said Walter
Vergara, head of the IDB’s Climate Change Division and lead author of the report.
In 2012, global investments in alternative renewable technologies (solar, wind, geothermal, ocean, small-scale hydropower and advanced bio-energy) and traditional hydropower amounted to $244 billion, of which Latin America represented a modest 5.4 per cent. To tap into its vast potential, the region must modernise its policy and regulatory frameworks and scale up investments.
While investments in renewable energy have been limited so far, the study argues that major new developments are underway in Latin America. Wind is the fastest-growing non-traditional renewable source in the region. Mexico is the fifth largest producer of geothermal energy in the world and Colombia, Panama and Ecuador are exploring their own resources. Biomass, solar and wind are increasingly being used in Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina and Chile.
The study concludes that, regardless how each country may shape its energy policy, increasing the penetration and use of non-traditional renewables makes sense for Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Inter-American Development Bank supports programmes to improve energy efficiency, foster cross-border energy integration, and diversify the energy matrix by sustainably exploiting renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
At present, the IDB is financing large-scale wind farms, solar power systems for rural areas, biofuel facilities that co-generate electricity and programmes to promote efficient lighting. It also supports retrofitting hydroelectric facilities with more efficient turbines and ensuring that new dams an
For more on this story go to:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Brimming-with-renewables_14523147
