Developing Renewable Energy: Comparative Scenarios and Public Policy Perspectives from some Latin American Countries

Authors

  • Claudia Cecilia Lardizabal National Autonomous University of Honduras.
  • Ismene Rosales Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico.
  • Janaina Camile Pasqual Centro Internacional de Hidroinformática (ITAIPU Binacional).
  • Gricelda Herrera Centro de Investigaciones y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT) Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL).
  • Sandra Mejia Delegacion Union Europea, Nicaragua.
  • Mariel Álvarez Cancino Corporación Regional de Desarrollo Productivo, Chile.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v30i0.34221

Keywords:

water and energy nexus, renewable energy, public policy

Abstract

The energy matrix of Latin American and the Caribbean countries has one of the largest renewable energy components when compared to other regions of the world. Nonetheless, by 2009 nearly three-quarters of its structure corresponded to fossil fuels, with most of the countries being net importers of these fuels. This situation marks the region´s dependence on the effects of changes in energy commodities. Therefore, the opportunity lies in higher use of renewable energy sources that contribute to the country´s energy security and represent significant environmental benefits. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of current energy scenarios of six Latin American countries (Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Brazil, Ecuador and Chile) in order to evaluate the policies, programs and strategies implemented in the search for greater participation of renewable energy. Considering the importance of the water-energy nexus that could serve to promote renewables under conditions of water scarcity, a qualitative data comparison was accomplished, considering energy consumption, CO2 emissions, GDP and water withdrawals per country. The authors conclude that, despite technological and financial constraints, all the involved countries are moving towards the substitution of a fossil fuel based matrix to a renewable one. This process could be seen as a result of clear policies and strategies that have been set, which include (but are not limited to) price regulations setting, preferential prices to electricity generated through renewable energy technologies and incentives formulated to encourage the production of biofuels.

Author Biographies

Claudia Cecilia Lardizabal, National Autonomous University of Honduras.

A biologist with a master degree in Integrated Watershed Management from The Center for Higher Education in Agronomical and Tropical Research (CATIE) in Costa Rica, has worked several years at the Biology Department as a Watershed Management specialist in the National Autonomous University of Honduras. At the same time she has worked as a Watershed Management Specialist in the Postgraduate division, coordinating the Masters degree program for Watershed Management scheduled to open this year. She has also been awarded to grants for hydrology related research, that deal with hydrologic balance calculation and modelling using IPCC scenarios.

Ismene Rosales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico.

Civil engineer with masters and doctorate in hydraulic engineering by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM), has worked for several years at the Instituto de Ingeniería (Institute of Engineering) of the UNAM, thus being linked with the research area. At the same time, she has developed projects in the private sector which have allowed her to enrich her perspective. She has been a professor at the UNAM, the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (Autonomous University of Baja California) and the Universidad Veracruzana (University of Veracruz). She is now part of the Grupo de Tratamiento y Reúso (Treatment and Reuse Group) of the Instituto de Ingeniería of the UNAM, where she is developing a postdoc on “Effects of Climate Change in the Water Sector in terms of quantity and quality”. 

Janaina Camile Pasqual, Centro Internacional de Hidroinformática (ITAIPU Binacional).

I have a Master degree in Multipurpose Technical Cadastre and Land Management, from Federal University of Santa Catarina – (UFSC), Brazil. Dissertation Title: Bioenergy and Carbon Credits Projects: a sustainable pilot project in Brazil in a Swine Production Property. I hold a B.S. in International Relations and a B.S. in Business Management from FAE Business School. I worked in the first farm that produced bioenergy from swine wastes in the State of Santa Catarina (Brazil). Nowadays I work at Itaipu Technological Park Foundation as consultant and manager of Graduation and Specialization Courses related to renewable energy and water and energy nexus.

Gricelda Herrera, Centro de Investigaciones y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT) Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL).

I did studies in Administration and after in Postgraduate Program, I have a Master Degree in Economy and Territorial Development. At the present time, I am studying in PhD Program in Social Economic and Local Development. I am Teacher in Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral-ESPOL University where I am working at the Center for Applied Research and Projects Earth Sciences, CIPAT-ESPOL.

Sandra Mejia, Delegacion Union Europea, Nicaragua.

Sandra Mejía received a Msc in Food Security and Nutrition from The University Centro Americana (UCA) in Nicaragua and she also hold two Post-Graduate course from the International Institute for Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation (ITC) in Enschede, The Netherlands; one on Rural Development and Land Ecology Survey, and the second one in Cartography. She also participated on the Multidisciplinary Program of Space Studies, organized by the International Space University in conjunction with the University of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. She is also a Part time University Professor at several National Universities addressing the following Subjects:Demography,Water management, Food security and Risk Management, and indigenous issues.Furthermore she is the focal point to follow issues related to Climate Change, Water resources management, water and sanitation, ICT and related issues, Indigenous people, Energy, Risk Management.

Mariel Álvarez Cancino, Corporación Regional de Desarrollo Productivo, Chile.

Ejecutiva de Competitividad e Innovación Eje Energía en CRDP Región de Coquimbo - Chile.

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Published

2014-07-21

How to Cite

Lardizabal, C. C., Rosales, I., Pasqual, J. C., Herrera, G., Mejia, S., & Cancino, M. Álvarez. (2014). Developing Renewable Energy: Comparative Scenarios and Public Policy Perspectives from some Latin American Countries. Desenvolvimento E Meio Ambiente, 30. https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v30i0.34221

Issue

Vol. 30 (2014): Water and Energy Nexus

Section

Water and Energy Nexus

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