What is the impact of COVID-19 on the energy transition of the countries of the Latin American and Caribbean region? Future prospects

#SectorEnergiaEnTiemposDePandemia

Articles and webinars on the health crisis analyzing the impact on the energy sector.

¿Cuál es el impacto del COVID-19 sobre la transición energética de los países de la región de América Latina y el Caribe? Perspectivas a futuro

En la última década, la mayoría de los países de la región han puesto en funcionamiento políticas públicas con el objetivo de alcanzar el autoabastecimiento energético, y al mismo tiempo permitir una transición energética justa a fin de lograr seguridad de abastecimiento y equidad en el acceso energético. Esto ha quedado evidenciado en los procesos competitivos para el financiamiento de proyectos de energías renovables a través del mecanismo de subastas (OLACDE, 2019), y de los programas de acceso energético a través de fuentes renovables.

El objetivo de tales políticas apuntó a dejar de depender paulatinamente de fuentes energéticas primarias como el petróleo o el gas natural, con las fuertes implicancias que esta dependencia genera sobre el saldo de la balanza de pagos y la demanda divisas, que luego impactan finalmente en forma directa sobre el crecimiento económico de nuestros países. Al mismo tiempo, las políticas de promoción de energías renovables fueron impulsadas con el objetivo de mitigar los efectos del cambio climático. Esto adquirió especial relevancia desde el año 2015, en el cual diversos países de la región firmaron el Acuerdo de París en la 21ª Conferencia de las Partes (COP) de la Convención Marco de Naciones Unidas sobre Cambio Climático (CMNUCC) (OCDE/IAE, 2016). Bajo este acuerdo establecieron compromisos de reducción de emisiones de Gases de Efecto Invernadero (GEI) para lograr el objetivo global de mantener el aumento de la temperatura media mundial muy por debajo de 2 ºC con respecto a los niveles preindustriales (Art. 2).

Developed by:

Carina Guzowski-María Florencia Zabaloy

*The opinions expressed in this article correspond to the assessment of the author, therefore, they do not represent an institutional position of OLACDE, nor do they constitute a recommendation of the organization for decision making. The author is responsible for the consistency of the data and information used in the analysis carried out.

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What is the impact of COVID-19 on the energy transition of the countries of the Latin American and Caribbean region? Future prospects

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#SectorEnergiaEnTiemposDePandemia Articles and webinars on the health crisis analyzing the impact on the energy sector. ¿Cuál es el impacto del COVID-19 sobre la transición energética de los países de la región de América Latina y el Caribe? Perspectivas a futuro En la última década, la mayoría de los países de la región han puesto en […]

Knowledge and Training

We promote advanced technical training programs that facilitate the exchange of experiences, as well as the development of the human and institutional capacities needed to support the energy transformations in our region.

Our academic offering includes executive programs, postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees, and innovative initiatives focused on topics such as energy transition, conventional energy, renewable energy, e-mobility, and regional integration.

OLACDE creates a regional network focused on energy knowledge that connects governments, young professionals, academics, and sector experts to drive collaborative solutions through technical cooperation and talent development to address future energy and climate challenges.

Technical cooperation and financing

We strengthen South-South and triangular cooperation ties as drivers to accelerate energy transitions in Latin America and the Caribbean. OLACDE brings together efforts among governments, multilateral organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector to mobilize financing, technical capacities, and innovative solutions tailored to our regional reality.

We promote strategic initiatives aimed at directing resources toward projects focused on decarbonization, conventional energy, renewable energy, and energy justice, with the objective of establishing a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable regional cooperation architecture.

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We are building a regional energy community with a global outlook that seeks to position Latin America and the Caribbean as a key player on the international stage. OLACDE strengthens its representation in major multilateral forums related to energy, trade, and climate by fostering strategic alliances and promoting international cooperation.

Through events such as Energy Week, together with new spaces for international dialogue, we promote a collective voice that helps attract financial investment and create new opportunities for sustainable development across our region.

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We drive an energy transition based on principles of sustainability, energy security, and social inclusion. OLACDE supports countries in adopting new technologies related to energy efficiency, energy storage, green hydrogen, electromobility, and grid digitalization to accelerate the sector’s decarbonization process.

Our approach also includes promoting strategic projects that strengthen energy resilience at the regional level, contributing to emission reductions while consolidating a cleaner and more competitive energy infrastructure. Initiatives such as OEMLAC position our region as a leading reference in climate innovation and sustainable energy transition.

Energy information and data

We develop regional platforms dedicated to energy information, technical analysis, and strategic data systems that strengthen both public and private decision-making in the sector. OLACDE promotes the digital transformation of the sector through the use of artificial intelligence, georeferencing, and advanced tools for regional energy analysis.

The integration of systems such as SieLAC, together with new regional platforms, allows for the consolidation of reliable and up-to-date technical information, facilitating modern, interoperable, and evidence-based energy planning.

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We promote cooperation in the regional energy sector, focused on collaboration, infrastructure development, and regulatory harmonization, with the objective of strengthening energy security in Latin America and the Caribbean. OLACDE coordinates projects related to electrical interconnection, gas integration, and regional energy planning, seeking to create efficient and sustainable partnerships.

Through cooperation with the governments of our 27 member countries, regional blocs, multilateral institutions, and both public and private stakeholders, we drive strategic initiatives that promote regulatory harmonization and new energy exchange mechanisms, in order to enhance national capacities and accelerate an integrated energy transition at the regional level.

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