Honduras

The Durban Platform: Implications and Scenarios in Latin America (2012)

This report analyzes submissions made by Latin American countries to the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (AWG-ADP) and compiles the experiences of the first intercessional meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in May, 2012, in Bonn, Germany. It is intends to provide analysis of the compiled data and the possible scenarios for the 2012 climate negotiations.

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October 18, 2012 | More on International Climate Negotiations, Reading List | Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, COP17, COP18, Costa Rica, Dominican Republica, Ecuador, Honduras, Perú | Comment

Books on Latin America and the Caribbean and climate change and the environment

Guy Edwards

The following book list includes texts focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean and climate change and the environment. The books address some of the most critical socio-environmental issues of the day with important implications for regional and national debates on climate. In the build up to the Rio+20 Conference next year, Latin American civil society organizations and regional and international networks are attempting to make this conference relevant and establish a new and revitalized agenda on sustainable development. These books can make a valuable contribution to that endeavour.

Honduras set to launch new renewable energy projects across the country

Guy Edwards

Tierramérica reports on Honduras’s growing interest in developing its renewable energy sector:

In the next two months Honduras is launching several renewable energy products that could save the country 87 million dollars and improve the operations of the government’s national electrical energy agency.

Through bids for production of 450 megawatts from renewable sources, the Honduran government aims to reduce its imports of fossil fuels, for which it currently spends about one billion dollars a year.

The projects are situated in different regions of the country and for the first time will involve the participation of small energy producers, backed by the government and international cooperation.

According to deputy environment minister Mauricio Reconco, Honduras has strong potential in renewable energies that should be developed in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Background:

1. Population – 6,968,700

2. GDP – $8 billion

3. Honduras Total Energy Supply 2002 (CEPAL, 2004): Oil – 49.4%, Renewables – 42.4%, Coal – 2.8%, Non-sustainable Woodfuel – 4.3% and other non-renewables – 1.0%

4. Honduras is a signatory state to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which was established in January 2009. IRENA aims to become a driving force for promoting the rapid transition towards the sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale.

5. Honduras was home to the first small-scale Clean Development Mechanism project in the world, a 13-MW hydro plant called Río Blanco. This project and another small hydro called La Esperanza were the first projects to be issued Certified Emission Reductions in 2005.

6. Honduras has enormous hydro potential with an estimated 4,534 MW of developable large and small hydro.

7. There are some excellent wind sites with wind speeds averaging 7-8 m/s.

October 6, 2009 | More on Public Climate Change Policies, Renewable Energy | Honduras | Comment

Honduras gets the green light for World Bank energy loan

Guy Edwards

Billed as an energy efficiency project, the World Bank has approved a US$30 million interest-free loan to strengthen the Honduran energy sector and improve the performance of the national electric power company, Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE).

The Power Sector Efficiency Enhancement Project (PROMEF) has three parts:

• Building ENEE’s management and commercial capacity;
• Renewing and rehabilitating distribution equipment, including the removal of polluted transformers;
• Institutional strengthening and corporate governance

The Honduran finance minister Rebeca Santos said, “This operation addresses an energy reorganization strategy launched by the Government, which requires streamlining the state-owned ENEE and further supporting new investments in renewable energy,”

The Inter-American Development Bank points out that Honduras has an energy intensity index of 3.24 which is just above the regional average suggesting any project designed to increase efficiency is an ideal way to save cash during the economic crisis.

Energy intensity reflects the energy efficiency of a country’s economy and is calculated as units of energy per unit of GDP. It can be affected by a number of factors such as climate and the type of technologies used by major industries.

In comparison to Honduras, Uruguay has the lowest energy intensity index at 0.82 in the region, where as Guyana’s 8.7 is the highest ensuring a poor energy efficiency record.

As Honduras’s energy demand continues to grow at roughly 3% per year it is faced with two choices. It can either fork out hundreds of millions of dollars by installing new power generation capacity or it can spend significantly less on improving energy efficiency.

2009 is unfolding in a storm of climate insecurity and financial turmoil highlighting that energy efficiency programmes are an essential and cost effective way of reducing spending, lowering carbon emissions and conserving limited resources.

January 30, 2009 | More on Climate Finance, Regional Organisations, Renewable Energy | Honduras, world bank | Comment