El Salvador Plans 150 MW Renewable Energy Auction

El Salvador Plans 150 MW Renewable Energy Auction (CleanTechnica)

102 MW geothermal capacity could be added by the end of 2021

El Salvador has announced plans to hold its second renewable energy auction as is looks to increase the share of sustainable energy sources in its electricity mix. The National Energy Council announced plans to auction 150 MW of renewable energy projects, with targets for operation by 2018.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will assist El Salvador in conducting this most recently announced auction. The Agency is optimistic about the future of renewable energy in the country. According to a recent assessment (PDF) by USAID, El Salvador could add 170 MW of solar power capacity by 2016, 40 MW wind energy capacity by 2017, 81.5 MW biomass-based power capacity by the end of this year, and 146 MW hydro power capacity and 102 MW geothermal capacity by the end of 2021.

In 2014, hydro power, geothermal and biomass-based power projects supplied 59% of El Salvador’s electricity while the balance came from fossil fuels.

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