Wind Energy

The growing role of wind energy en Central America

In the six main Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama), renewable sources accounted for 61% of grid-injected electricity. The later was reported en the last study compiled by the Economic Commision for Latin America and the Caribbean, (CEPAL) for 2009.

Specifically, hydropower accounted for 47.5%, geothermal for 7.9%, biomass for 4.4% and wind power for 1.1%. As for the rest, 37.3% was produced from oil and 1.8% from coal.

As for single countries, Costa Rica registers the top renewable share (over 95%), followed by Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala, all ranging between 53 and 57%. Only Honduras (45.7%) and Nicaragua (26.5%) have a share below 50%.

It must be noted that wind power is starting to emerge among the new renewable sources. Indeed, en 2009 its production nearly reached 238 million kWh, a 120% increase over the previous year, thanks to major projects en Nicaragua and Costa Rica

www.eclac.cl/publicaciones/xml/5/41665/2010-63-Estad_subsector_electrico-L976.pdf

www.enelgreenpower.com