Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) has announced 37 new energy awards with a total of 7411 MW in solar PV and wind power generation assets in priority regions across the country.
Brazil has launched what is described as the world’s first engine designed to run almost entirely on ethanol for large-scale power generation, opening a pathway for use of the biofuel.
Electroguayas, Ecuador’s state power generator, has awarded a $20 million contract to upgrade the 90 MW Santa Elena II thermal plant to HH International of South Korea. HH International will increase the capacity of the plant to 108 MW.
Wärtsilä has signed two equipment supply contracts with Origem Energia for the development of new balancing power projects in Brazil. The contracts cover the supply of two batches of 18 Wärtsilä 34SG balancing engines.
Brazil’s Growth Acceleration Programme (PAC) is supporting 474 energy-related projects, involving a total investment of $47 billion.
Javier Medina, Ecuador’s Vice Minister of Electricity, has announced that the country will transfer the O&M of its largest hydropower plant, the 1500 MW Coca Codo Sinclair plant to Power China as part of an arbitration settlement.
Cuba’s Electric Union (UNE) has announced that the nation’s power grid suffered a total grid on 16 March, with the whole island being subjected to a blackout. UNE, the state power utility, said that efforts are underway to restore power.
The Caribbean Transmission Development Company (CTDC) has announced that the US Department of Energy (DOE) has granted a permit for the $2.5 billion Project Hostos to enable power to be transmitted from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico.
Luz Elena González, Mexico’s Energy Minister, has announced private companies will invest €4.5 billion to build 20 renewable energy projects across 11 Mexican states. In addition, the government plans three more solar power plants and will invest nearly €1.8 billion in transmission infrastructure.
Brazil’s National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) has authorised Casa dos Ventos to operate new wind and solar farms in the northeast region of Brazil.