In the face of the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and the sharp rise in international energy prices, many countries in Latin America have regarded energy transition as the main starting point for coping with international risks and promoting economic recovery in the post-epidemic era. The production and application of energy, biomass energy, etc., actively reduce the dependence on traditional energy such as oil, natural gas, coal, etc., and lay out a greener and more sustainable energy matrix.
According to data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency recently, more than 25% of primary energy in Latin America is provided by renewable energy, which is twice the global average; in addition, it also has the most dynamic renewable energy market in the world. At present, Latin American countries are working hard to create a more favorable policy and regulatory environment and promote the diversification of energy supply. A study by the International Renewable Energy Agency predicts that investments in green energy will create 3.2 million jobs in Latin America by 2050 and contribute 2.4 percent to the region's GDP growth.
Brazil--
The power structure "wind" and "light" are just right
Varsa Calvano, 44, runs a small shop in Rio de Janeiro's south district, Brazil. In order to meet the daily business needs, she must always turn on the air conditioner. "The monthly electricity bill often exceeds 1,000 reais, which makes me really overwhelmed." Not long ago, she invested about 40,000 reais to install a rooftop photovoltaic system, "Now, my monthly electricity bill does not exceed 200 reais. , the investment is a good deal.”
A few days ago, a cargo ship from China arrived in Fortaleza, Brazil. The cargo ship brought more than 200 containers of photovoltaic panels, which will then be installed at photovoltaic power plants in the Fortaleza metropolitan area. According to reports, the power station will install about 620,000 photovoltaic panels, with a total installed capacity of about 220 megawatts, and nearly 300 jobs can be created during the installation phase alone.
Calvano's rooftop photovoltaic system and Fortaleza's photovoltaic power plant are the epitome of the rapid development of Brazil's photovoltaic industry. According to data released by the Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association, the country currently has an installed capacity of 14 gigawatts of solar power, which is comparable to the Itaipu Hydropower Station, one of the world's largest hydropower stations. In addition, since 2012, the photovoltaic industry has attracted more than 74.6 billion reais of investment in Brazil, created more than 420,000 jobs, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 18 million tons. "The development of the photovoltaic industry will help to expand Brazil's energy supply sources, reduce the pressure on hydropower plants, and stabilize electricity prices." said Rodrigo Soovaya, president of the Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Association.
Sufficient coastal wind has also brought new changes to Brazil's energy mix. Currently, wind energy accounts for about 10% of Brazil's energy mix, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. The Brazilian government plans to increase this ratio to 13% within 10 years.
In January, the Brazilian government released new regulations allowing electricity production within the country's offshore exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, an important step towards a safe and predictable regulatory environment for offshore generation. "In the near future, 'big windmills' will be erected in the offshore areas of Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Sul, and the future of offshore wind power plants is promising," said Mario Luis, President of Brazil New Energy Company. .
Chile--
Fuel transformation "hydrogen" is installed
At a port in Chile's southernmost Magellan region, the sound of melodious sirens cut through the quiet of the morning as a freighter loaded with several wind turbines arrived at the port. Several cranes worked together, and after a while, several trucks drove to the green hydrogen energy production base with turbines.
Green hydrogen energy (green hydrogen) is hydrogen obtained by electrolyzing water using electricity produced by renewable energy sources such as wind energy and solar energy. It only produces water when it is burned, and can achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions from the source. It is a veritable "green energy".
According to data released by the Chilean Ministry of Energy, Chile's Magellan Region alone produces 13% of the world's green hydrogen. Taking the city of San Gregorio in the district as an example, by 2027, San Gregorio will build a green industrial cluster, including a wind power station with an installed capacity of 10 GW, a hydrogen production plant with an electrolysis capacity of 8 GW, a Desalination plants and ammonia plants. Once the project runs at full capacity, it can produce 800,000 tons of hydrogen per year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 5 million tons. "In the future, the Magellan Region plans to invest more than US$15 billion to build four green hydrogen projects to fully tap the potential of wind energy," said Juan Carlos Hovett, former minister of Chile's Ministry of Energy.
Patricio Lillo, a professor of mining engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, said that as the cost of generating electricity from renewable energy continues to decrease, so does the price of green hydrogen. Solar power costs in Chile have fallen by 80% over the past 10 years, and green hydrogen prices are expected to fall below $1.5/kg by 2030 and $0.8/kg by 2050.
In March this year, the Chilean Ministry of Energy issued a guideline for the development of the green hydrogen industry, planning to provide the world with the cheapest green hydrogen by 2030 and become one of the world's top three green hydrogen exporters by 2040.
The International Renewable Energy Agency pointed out that by 2050, hydrogen energy will account for 12% of global energy use, and Chile will become one of the important green hydrogen exporters. The agency's director-general, Francisco LaCamera, said that the energy revolution led by green hydrogen will reduce the dependence of industrial and social development on oil and natural gas, and help achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.
Colombia--
The energy matrix is good "wind" and good "water"
A few days ago, the mayor of Medellin, Colombia, Danil Quintero, announced that the country's largest hydroelectric power station in Ituango will be commissioned in the near future. The power station has an installed capacity of 2,400 megawatts, and the entire project can meet about 20% of the country's electricity demand.
"Clean energy occupies a very high proportion in Colombia's energy structure, and hydropower accounts for about 70% of the country's energy supply." Juan Ortega, president of Bogota Energy Group, said that in the rainy season, this proportion can be close to 100%. Colombia is rich in water resources, and its terrain and abundant rainfall provide favorable conditions for the development of hydropower in the country. Currently, Colombia has more than 50 small hydroelectric power plants, six large hydroelectric plants, and nearly 80% of the untapped hydroelectric potential. According to a report by the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy Planning, the country plans to build new hydroelectric power stations in Antioquia in the northwest and Cundinamarca and Boyaca in the center after 2026.
In order to diversify the energy structure and ensure energy security, Colombia plans to invest about US$290 million in the energy system every year between 2015 and 2050 to further enrich the energy matrix. In addition to hydropower resources, Colombia also vigorously develops wind and solar energy. Colombia is one of the most wind-rich regions in South America, with 21 GW of wind potential on the country's Atlantic coast alone. The country's northern coastal province of Guajira had winds rated at magnitude 7, with wind speeds exceeding 10 meters per second. At the same time, the province of Guajira is also the region with the most sunlight in Colombia, with an average daily radiation rate of 6 kWh/m2. “By fully exploiting the potential of wind and solar energy, the amount of power generation infrastructure on the Caribbean coast and in some inland areas with high levels of solar radiation is expected to double,” Ortega said.
The number of wind and solar projects in Colombia has grown from two to 21 solar farms, two wind farms, 10 large-scale solar PV projects and more than 3,000 small-scale solar projects in the past four years, according to a statement from the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy Planning. Photovoltaic project. Colombia - President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Thorston said: "Compared with 2018, Colombia's installed non-traditional renewable energy capacity (mainly wind and solar) has increased by nearly 100 times, which is a great contribution to the diversification of Colombia's energy mix. significant."