Central and South America |
Hydro across the Americas
As detailed in the International Hydropower Association’s Hydropower Status Report 2021, hydro development continues across the Central and South American region
Above: Drought in Brazil. The country has recorded the lowest rainfall during the wet season for 30 years
Below: Chucas Hydroelectric Power Plant in Costa Rica. The country reached its goal of 100% renewable electricity production in 2020 and hydropower accounted for 72% of this
SOUTH AMERICA HAS SEEN significant demand for hydropower development in recent years, making it one of the fastest growing regions. According to the International Hydropower Association’s Hydropower Status Report 2021, hydropower provides more than half of total electricity supply in several countries and is expected to remain the region’s largest renewable source for years to come. In Colombia, hydropower currently accounts for about 70% of electricity generation and due to the country’s geography, small hydro developments are described as having “strategic advantages”. Peru’s renewable portfolio continues to expand with more than 2000MW of projects planned – most of which are hydropower and include the 84MW La Virgen project to be commissioned in 2021. Ecuador is trying to attract private investment to construct and operate hydropower projects. It is seeking US$5300million for the 2400MW Santiago project
which is currently in the feasibility study phase, and for the 596MW Cardenillo and 487MW Spoladora projects in the bidding process.
Construction continues on the 290MW Ivirizu and 204MW Miguilas hydropower projects in Bolivia; and Venezuela is continuing with rehabilitation of electromechanical equipment units that were out of service since outages allegedly caused by cyberattacks in 2019. As detailed in the IHA’s report, Brazil has suffered
from chronic drought in recent years with the lowest recorded rainfall in the 2020 wet season for 30 years. In March 2021, the government declared that Brazil is undergoing a major hydrological crisis and, for a country reliant on hydropower reservoirs to generate over 60% of electricity, the consequences of this are significant. “Energy supply is at stake and the regulator is warning that the electricity tariff may increase in
12 | August 2021 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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