Panama: 90% of Electricity from Renewable Sources

News from Panama / Friday, April 15th, 2011
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Two weeks ago I drove over the mountains to visit the Caribbean coast and wondered at the amount of rainfall in the high mountains that runs 3 to 5 meters a year.  This is the reason that the Fortuna Dam and hydro project is located there and why the province of Chiriqui produces 80 percent of the power for the Country.  Now with the advent of numerous small hydro projects, Panama is reaching the point where it will produce 90% of the power consumption with sustainable resources.

 

This in from CentralAmericaData.com

By the end of 2011, the country expects to be have 1.114 MW of capacity from hydroelectric power, thereby meeting 90% of its current demand.
Seven new hydroelectric plants costing over $1 billion are in the final stages of construction and will begin operating before the end of the year, according to official sources.

Panama’s current grid already has 682 MW of power available from hydroelectric generators at La Fortuna, Bayano, La Estrella, Los Valles, Macano, Concepción and Paso Ancho.

“The largest new generator is due to come on line on July 31 and is called Chan 75. It has been under construction by AES Panama since 2005 and will have capacity to produce 223 megawatts of electricity – 15% of the country’s existing capacity,” reports an article by Wilfredo Jordán for Prensa.com.

In case you are interested in a potential project site, we have a property that is well suited for a small hydro installation.  Here is a link the listing information.

366 Hectare Chiriqui River Ranch With Hydro Power Potential

Drop us a line for more information at tbrymer@brymerpa.com