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CENTRAL AMERICA |
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Nicaragua
Placing Its Bets On Solar Energy
MANAGUA - Nicaragua intends to become less
dependent on electricity from fossil fuels
in the short term, and to do that the
country is carrying out solar development
projects along the Caribbean coast and in
rural areas, the deputy energy minister said
Monday.
"Four photovoltaic projects are being
pursued to generate solar energy in the
country, among which we can point to the
Euro Solar program, which will benefit 42
communities (7,000 families) in the North
Atlantic Autonomous Region," Lorenza Lanzas
told a press conference in Managua.
She said the photovoltaic solar project will
have the capacity to produce 1.2 KW of
electric energy, to be used mainly for
health, education and communications
services - the latter by Internet and phone
- at local community centers.
The Caribbean municipalities benefiting from
the project are Bilwi, Prinzapolka, Siuna,
Rosita and Waspam, she said.
"More than $2 million contributed by the
European Union and $400,000 provided by the
Nicaraguan government are being invested in
this project," the deputy minister said.
The other three projects are being carried
out in rural parts of the country, where
home electrification will be provided with
photovoltaic systems with a total capacity
of 90 KW and which will be interconnected
with a national network now under
construction, she noted.
In addition, Lanzas announced that on
Tuesday the first regional workshop on
"business opportunities for solar energy in
Central America" will take place in Managua.
At the workshop, she said, sector experts
from around the region will analyze
"experiences and obstacles" that limit the
implementation of solar energy in Central
America.
Nicaragua relies on fossil fuels for 80
percent of the energy it generates. EFE
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