A new report highlights key actions that could improve conditions for renewable energy development in El Salvador.

​Released in December 2020, Renewables Readiness Assessment: El Salvador (English (full report) | Spanish (summary)) is based on a study undertaken by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River (CEL – Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa) and the National Energy Council (CNE – Consejo Nacional de Energía).

The release states: "El Salvador has prioritised renewable energy projects to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and improve energy security. The National Energy Policy 2010-2024 has become a key tool for the country to advance the use of indigenous renewables, including hydropower, biomass, solar photovoltaic (PV) and geothermal power."

Key recommendations of the report include: 

• Enhance long-term planning and policy for the renewable energy sector
• Create enabling conditions for geothermal energy development
• Establish clear institutional frameworks and co-ordination
• Assess the implementation of distributed power generation
• Foster project development and financing for renewables

U.S. President-Elect Biden has identified climate change as one of his administration's top priorities, according to the Biden-Harris Transition website. In addition to rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, the Biden-Harris Administration plans "to create union jobs by tackling the climate crisis." Energy-related plans described on the transition website include the following:

• Infrastructure: "Create millions of good, union jobs rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure – from roads and bridges to green spaces and water systems to electricity grids and universal broadband – to lay a new foundation for sustainable growth, compete in the global economy, withstand the impacts of climate change, and improve public health, including access to clean air and clean water."
• Power Sector: "Move ambitiously to generate clean, American-made electricity to achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. This will enable us to meet the existential threat of climate change while creating millions of jobs with a choice to join a union."
• Buildings: "Upgrade 4 million buildings and weatherize 2 million homes over 4 years, creating at least 1 million good-paying jobs with a choice to join a union; and also spur the building retrofit and efficient-appliance manufacturing supply chain by funding direct cash rebates and low-cost financing to upgrade and electrify home appliances and install more efficient windows, which will cut residential energy bills."
• Innovation: "Drive dramatic cost reductions in critical clean energy technologies, including battery storage, negative emissions technologies, the next generation of building materials, renewable hydrogen, and advanced nuclear – and rapidly commercialize them, ensuring that those new technologies are made in America."

In addition, President-Elect Biden announced that former senator and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will serve as climate envoy for national security. Kerry will become the first member of the National Security Council to focus exclusively on climate change, according to AP News. 

In November 2020, the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) released two reports addressing the need to shift the transportation, heating and cooling sectors to renewable energy.

Transportation: The rapidly growing transportation sector generated nearly 25% of global energy-related GHG emissions in 2019, yet only 3.7% of the sector's energy consumption was met by renewable sources, according to REN21. Citing the need for a "rapid and fundamental shift ... in transport to enable the decarbonisation required to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement," REN21 and the FIA Foundation released an in-depth study, Renewable Energy Pathways in Road Transport, to highlight sustainable solutions. A link to the full report is here, and those interested in staying informed and participating in future energy and transportation initiatives are invited to sign up here. 

Heating and Cooling: The continued use of fossil fuels as the main fuel for heating and cooling contributes significantly to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. A new report, Renewable Energy Policies in a Time of Transition: Heating and Cooling (2020), prepared by REN21, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), "provides an overview of the role of renewables in heating and cooling with context on the different technological options and applications." It also "showcases supporting policy mechanisms necessary to support the development and deployment of renewables in heating and cooling." A link to the full report is here. 

In August 2020, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) released The Recover Better with Sustainable Energy Guide for Caribbean Countries. 

The guide "shows how sustainable energy investment can support Caribbean countries to 'Recover Better’ [from the COVID-19 pandemic] and accelerate a clean energy transition to deliver long-term economic growth and new jobs." The following information is from the press release. The full guide is available here.

"According to the guide, the Caribbean region has a historic opportunity to transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to one powered by resilient, decentralized, clean energy. Currently, the Caribbean power sector is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels and has some of the highest electricity costs in the world. Under an ambitious recover better strategy, Caribbean countries should aspire to invest as much as 25 percent of their stimulus budgets for on-grid and off-grid renewable energy – through a combination of solar, hydro and wind. Accelerating this transition will also generate significant economic growth, with an estimated annual saving of USD 9 billion in fuel costs if all 31 countries in the Caribbean move to 90 percent clean energy by 2030."

'This investment will also help grow the region’s resilience and energy security to deal with the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, which Caribbean countries are particularly vulnerable to. In addition to high electricity costs, centralized electricity systems have shown to be weak during extreme weather events with devastating effect. Off-grid systems, such as solar-based mini-grids, can keep critical services like health facilities connected when the centralized system fails. A renewable energy future also helps support faster progress on the Paris Agreement."

“'As Caribbean countries continue to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ‘Recover Better’ with sustainable energy to support greater energy resilience and security,' said  Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. 'By investing in sustainable energy, countries can use this moment to move away from a fossil fuel-based economy to one powered by clean energy that will provide cheaper electricity for consumers and help support the vital tourism industry in the region.'  Countries that commit to an ambitious recover better strategy will benefit from increased GDP, affordable energy provision, and improved gender and health outcomes. Investment in distributed energy resources will not only benefit the electricity systems and communities, but also support tourism across the region – a core industry for Caribbean countries. From supporting food cold chains to powering businesses, local renewable resources and energy efficiency measures can enhance competitiveness, lower energy costs, increase resilience and stimulate the local industry.  

"The new Recover Better with Sustainable Energy Guide from SEforALL highlights key policy measures Caribbean governments should adopt to ensure a successful energy transition in this period, including:

• Robust policies and institutions in support of renewables and energy efficiency: To deliver strong growth of renewables and energy efficiency, governments should establish or empower institutions such as regulators and other relevant agencies and ensure the right frameworks are in place to successfully drive the development of renewables and energy efficiency. 
• Shifting electricity sector investments to renewable energy plus storage: For power generation, new investments in renewables are cheaper than new investments in fossil fuels in all major markets today. By adding storage, Caribbean countries can increase resilience, use homegrown energy, avoid creating future fossil fuel stranded assets and reduce the significant negative consequences both to the public’s health and to the fragile ecosystems of the region. With continuing cost reductions, renewables plus storage are now cheaper for many Caribbean countries than conventional fossil fuels – providing reliable power for up to 14 hours a day.  
• Invest in energy efficiency: Investment in energy efficiency saves on energy bills, creates jobs and is the cheapest way to reduce emissions. For instance, cold chains are integral to the tourism and agriculture sector of the Caribbean region, and energy efficient cold chain systems would ensure not only significant cost savings for businesses, but also strengthen food security across a region that is vulnerable to various climate risks.  
• Ease of doing business: Several activities can be put in place to ensure that investments are driven as fast as possible, including faster approval processes and transparent investment policies (price discovery, reverse auctions etc.) for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Fiscal incentives such as reducing or eliminating import duties and VAT for renewable energy equipment and energy efficient appliances should also be considered."

"Other key recommendations outlined in The Recover Better with Sustainable Energy Guide for Caribbean Countries include investing in robust data, eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, moving towards cost-reflective tariffs and investing in people so they can take advantage of new clean energy jobs"


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Global investment in renewable energy capacity increased in the first half of 2020, despite the COVID-19-related economic downturn, according to BloombergNEF (BNEF).

BNEF found that "[o]verall investment in new renewable energy capacity (excluding large hydro-electric dams of more than 50MW) was $132.4 billion in the first half of 2020, up 5% from a revised $125.8 billion in the same period of 2019."

Increased offshore wind financings, which totaled $35 billion in the first half of 2020 (a new record), offset declines in investment in other technologies. For example, onshore wind investment dropped 21% to $37.5 billion, while that for solar fell 12% to $54.7 billion in the same period. 

Albert Cheung, head of analysis at BNEF, commented: “We expected to see Covid-19 affecting renewable energy investment in the first half, via delays in the financing process and to some auction programs. There are signs of that in both solar and onshore wind, but the overall global figure has proved amazingly resilient – thanks to offshore wind.”

The Florence School of Regulation (FSR) and the InterAmerican Development Bank are offering 20 scholarships to early- and mid-career women who are contributing to innovative energy solutions, research and initiatives that accelerate the energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). FSR offers training on a wide variety of energy regulation and policy topics which will provide participants with the technical knowledge needed to take advantage of employment and leadership opportunities.

More information and application link are here. Application deadline is August 2, 2020.

REN21’s Renewables 2020 Global Status Report (GSR) finds that growth in renewable power has been impressive over the past five years, but there needs to be much more rapid progress in the heating, cooling and transport sectors to address climate change.

“Year after year, we report success after success in the renewable power sector. Indeed, renewable power has made fantastic progress. It beats all other fuels in growth and competitiveness. Many national and global organisations already cry victory. But our report sends a clear warning: The progress in the power sector is only a small part of the picture. And it is eaten up as the world’s energy hunger continues to increase. If we do not change the entire energy system, we are deluding ourselves,” said Rana Adib, REN21’s Executive Director in a press release (EN, ES, PT) announcing the new report.

The GSR analysis shows that in the heating, cooling and transport sectors, the barriers are still nearly the same as 10 years ago. “We must also stop heating our homes and driving our cars with fossil fuels,” Adib said. REN21 is calling for "an immediate switch to efficient and renewable energy in all sectors."

Read the most comprehensive overview of the status of renewables -- including country data and trends  -- here: www.ren21.net/gsr. 

Key findings include:

• Total final energy demand continues to be on the rise (1.4% annually from 2013 to 2018).
• Despite significant progress in renewable power generation, the share of renewables in total final energy demand barely increased (9.6% in 2013 to 11% in 2018).
• Compared to the power sector, the heating, cooling and transport sectors lag far behind (renewable energy share in power, 26%, heating and cooling, 10%, transport, 3%).
• Today’s progress is largely the result of policies and regulations initiated years ago and focus on the power sector. Major barriers seen in heating, cooling and transport are still almost the same a decade on. Policies are needed to create the right market conditions.
• The renewable energy sector employed around 11 million people worldwide in 2018.
• In 2019, the private sector signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for a record growth of over 43% from 2018 to 2019 in new renewable power capacity.
• The global climate strikes have reached unprecedented levels with millions of people across 150 countries. They have pushed governments to step up climate ambitions.
• As of April 2020, 1490 jurisdictions – spanning 29 countries and covering 822 million citizens – had issued “climate emergency” declarations, many of which include plans and targets for more renewable-based energy systems.
• While some countries are phasing out coal, others continued to invest in new coal-fired power plants. In addition, funding from private banks for fossil fuel projects has increased each year since the signing of the Paris Agreement, totaling USD 2.7 trillion over the last three years.

“It is clear, renewable power has become mainstream and that is great to see. But the progress in this one sector should not lead us to believe that renewables are a guaranteed success. Governments need to take action beyond economic recovery packages. They also need to create the rules and the environment to switch to an efficient and renewables-based energy system. Globally. Now.” concludes Arthouros Zervos, President of REN21

About REN21 and the Renewables Global Status Report (GSR)
REN21 is the only global community of renewable energy actors from science, academia, governments, NGOs and industry across all renewable energy sectors. REN21's reports provide up-to date facts, figures and peer-reviewed analysis of global developments in technology, policies and markets to decision-makers. The 2020 GSR edition has been co-authored by over 350 experts. The InterAmerican Clean Energy Institute is a contributor to the GSR. 

Responding to calls for international support, the Institute has joined more than 80 international environmental and human rights organizations in a public statement in solidarity with demands from Amazonian communities and federations facing the threat of COVID-19. 

Together in partnership with international organizations, we support indigenous peoples' demands for:

• a moratorium on all extractive activities like mining, oil, and logging, industrial agriculture, and all religious proselytization;
• the right to self-determination and self-protection during the pandemic;
• adequate and culturally-appropriate public health services;
• law enforcement on organized crime threats in and around indigenous territories;
• the creation of urgent action working groups to deal with the health, food, and security emergencies that have arisen during this pandemic.

Read the full statement here.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) invites renewable energy project developers to register projects that are seeking financing on the Climate Investment Platform, a global multi-stakeholder initiative to mobilize investments at the necessary scale to achieve meaningful progress towards climate objectives.

The Climate Investment Platform is organized around 14 regional clusters, including:

• Central America
• South America
• Caribbean Islands

Each regional cluster and investor forum supports matchmaking between projects, project developers, and potential financiers and investors. Renewable energy projects, along with renewable-based electricity grid and energy efficiency projects, may be considered for support.
 
IRENA’s Investment Forums will be structured around three main phases:

• Phase 1: Development of a project pipeline
• Phase 2: Investment Forum event
• ​Phase 3: Post-forum project support

More details on each phase are available at this link. 

Climate Investment Platform

The following information is from the IRENA website: "The Climate Investment Platform (CIP) is a global initiative, announced on the occasion of the UN Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit in September 2019, by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All), in co-operation with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The CIP is an inclusive partnership welcoming all stakeholders, from governments and international organizations to the private sector, to scale up climate action and translate ambitious national climate targets into concrete investments on the ground. Working collectively and together with all interested partners, the CIP aims to mobilise investments at the necessary scale to achieve meaningful progress towards climate objectives. The CIP will initially focus on energy transition, with the ultimate goal of accelerating investments in renewable energy and enabling the realisation of the ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)."