The European Union (EU) is aiming to have 32% share of renewable energy in its total energy mix by the year 2030. Nine Latin American nations have gone several steps ahead and plan a whopping 70% renewable energy target to be achieved by the same year translating into 312 GW in terms of actual capacity. However, while the EU target is already ratified and legally binding, the Latin American nations are still in the planning stage.
Reuters reported Colombian Energy Minister Maria Fernanda Suarez as having put up the proposal at the recently concluded United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019. Suarez identified these countries as Chile, Peru. Ecuador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and her home country, Colombia.
She told Reuters that two other Latin American nations Panama and Brazil are considering the proposal. More nations will be targeted to add their names to the list ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Summit in Chile in December 2019.
Colombia itself will contribute 4 GW to this regional goal of 312 GW which is to be achieved majorly through wind, solar, biomass or any other form of clean energy. By mid-2022, the country says it is committed to having 9% or around 1.5 GW of solar and wind power capacity.
Having scrapped its first renewable energy auction in February 2019 fearing antitrust rules despite securing bids of 1.5 GW, Colombia is gearing up to launch its first formal renewable energy auction in October 2019 for which it has now confirmed attracting interest from 27 companies (see 27 Companies Express Interest In Colombian RE Auction). This, Suarez, explained will have take or pay condition for renewable energy supply under a 15-year power purchase agreement.
EU nations step up efforts
At the UN summit, Greece and Hungary too made big announcements committing to phase-out all coal powered electricity generation. While Greece will aim to report total victory by 2028, Hungary said it will be able to achieve the same by 2030.
This fossil fuel powered electricity will be replaced by renewables, however details have not yet been released officially.
An alliance of civil society groups working to enable closure of coal mines and power plants, Europe Beyond Coal argues that Hungary can and should target a more ambitious 2025 phase out date while adding, "The challenge for both Greece and Hungary now is to implement a clear plan for a just transition from coal to renewable energy sources so workers and communities are not left behind."
According to Belgium based Euractiv media, Greece will increase its renewables target from 31% to 35% by 2030 as announced during a public debate among EU energy ministers on the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) submitted by the EU member states.
Another EU country Bulgaria has also pledged to scale up its renewables share from the current 25% to 27% by 2030 and France will increase it from 32% to 33% to be reported by the same year.
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