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Belize is seeking to boost its solar energy infrastructure by participating in a high-level meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The Seventh Meeting of the ISA Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean held this week, in Santiago, Chile, aims to advance solar deployment and strengthen energy frameworks across the region. The meeting provides an opportunity for Belize to access funding mechanisms to support solar projects; strengthen technical expertise through capacity-building programs for energy professionals; create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in the solar sector; advance digital transformation with smart grids and energy data platforms; enhance policy frameworks to attract private investment and collaborate on new technologies like green hydrogen and energy storage. Belize’s delegation was led by the CEO of the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics, Leroy Almendarez, and Energy Director Ryan Cobb. Not long before attending the meeting, Dr. Almendarez spoke to our newsroom about the importance of solar energy, in Belize’s push to eventually become an exporter of energy.
Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Chief Executive Officer at the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics:“At this point in time the primary source that we’re looking at is solar. I think you recently heard about the BABCOL solar that was signed for 15 megawatts. That’s an addition but it also provides a testing ground to see how it works because the thing you must understand with solar, solar is generated when the sun is actually shining. If there’s cloud cover, that creates an issue. And so it can create instability with the grid. So matching that, in that case they have some battery and battery to store energy. And basically what it does is smooths it over in the event of a cloud cover or instability. So we’re also looking in our situation here at battery energy storage systems and the purpose of these systems, of course, about 20 megawatts in some cases, the whole purpose of this is to create that instability that may come that provides the kind of stability that is necessary. You do want to reduce your reliance on imported power. Right, at some point in time, Belize’s goal is to become a net exporter of energy, more than likely being renewables. What will be that combination? We don’t know, but more than likely, solar will be somewhere in there or being a part of it.”
The ISA meeting was held from August 4-6. The delegation is expected to return to Belize next week.
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