Renewable energy sources in Latin America and the Caribbean: Situation and Policy Proposals

ECLAC

2004

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The different initiatives apparent in the region’s countries should be incorporated into a vision of the energy sector as a whole, making the demands of sustainable development a condition for their evolution. From this perspective certain strategic lines should arise that guide public policy formulation. These should suitably weigh the role that renewable energies could play in economic growth, employment, the environment, rural development, universal energization, and the governability of resources, in particular water. Based on this integrated vision, this study puts forward four relevant issues and initiatives with concrete proposals for Latin America and the Caribbean: A revaluation from an environmental and social perspective of hydro power according to the demands of sustainable development; The contribution of renewable sources to the integrated development of rural communities; The rational use of fuelwood; The role of biomass and biofuels. These challenges must be dealt with considering the opportunities contained in the new European linking directive on emissions (EuroKyoto), which offers the region the chance to enter a global mechanism trading in emissions, which will attempt to create an institutionalized system as a function of projects already identified in the pilot phase of the Kyoto Protocol; and evaluating the possibility of applying guaranteed buying modes or “Feed-In”, which in Europe have enjoyed significant success. [Extracto, Summary,]

América Latina y el Caribe; Biocombustibles; Biomasa; Desarrollo rural; Energía hidroeléctrica; Energías renovables; Leña;