Gewessler, Hörl, Wolkinger Course: Energy and Sustainable Development

Energy Consumption, CO2 Emissions, GDP and Population ↑ potential of being self-sufficient in primary energy 74% fossil, 26% renewable but huge differences among countries Energy consumption in Latin America: Policy and Public awareness: Resource Nationalism Unstable political regimes → conflicts Public awareness very low but many projects and efforts are under way Income inequality Renewable Energy Share in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2007

Interconnections between countries planned, ongoing projects 2003: harmonization Columbia and Ecuador Different power frequencies in North and South (interconnections difficult) Investment in energy supply infrastructure might be too low according to a report by the Deutsche Bank (2007) Power Grid Network Structure in Latin America

High potential – Sun Belt Region Few installations yet First solar energy park planned in Argentina with a maximum installed potential of 1.2 megawatts World Map: Amount of Insolation

potential for wind power is extraordinarily high Brazil: 140 GW Central America/Caribbean: 100GW Mexico: 40 GW wind parks planned or under construction Capacity will rise up to 46 GW by 2025 Brazil’s market size will reach ca. 70% of total installed capacity in LA Latin American Wind Potential per Country Wind Energy Production Capacity for Latin America

2007: Billion Kilowatt-hours by Hydro Power Plants Brazil: 96% of electricity by hydropower (world leader in hydroelectric plants) many multi-scale facilities potential for small hydroelectric technologies high rainfall indices  small hydroelectric technologies interesting for remote areas Itaipu dam Brazil

Instead of burning, it is possible to use plants as a carbon sink store energy in a simply and cost effective way trees provide a natural source of energy and additionally carbon-free building materials growing biomass is a cheaper and more sustainable energy source than fossil fuels

Currently used biomass energy technologies (CBETs) negative effects: low thermal efficiency significant emissions leads to respiratory and heart ailments, tuberculosis and blindness emissions of long-lived (CH4) and short-lived (CO) significant greenhouse effects leads to warming of the lower atmosphere influence water budgets on a regional scale Advanced biomass energy technologies (ABETs) positive effects: deliver higher thermal efficiencies lower emissions of pollutants energy savings co-benefits to health effects climate change mitigation assess the barriers to their widespread diffusion

billion of men, woman and children are forced to live in absolute poverty current strategic energy models provide mega cities with energy but not local rural areas balance interests between economic growth and the supply of local energy services for poverty reduction