Energy production enough to beat El Nio drought

IN SPITE OF the drop in hydroelectric production due to the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon, Panama has the energy needed to meet the demand over the coming months.

Ivan Barría, Director of the electric distribution company Etesa, said Saturday,August 15.that the average growth of energy demand is about 6 percent, which means about 100 megawatts must be added a year to the existing supply. In the next few months new thermal plants producing 189 MW will be added.
Two new barges which will add 89 megawatts to the system will be operated by the Pedregal Power Company in Manzanillo, Colon. In addition, 50 megawatts will be added to the thermal plant of La Chorrera and 50 megawatts to another thermal power plant to be installed at Santa Rita, Colón.
These plants will operate on bunker fuel, which is more efficient than diesel.
In addition, AES Panama has a barge in Bahia Las Minas, Colón, with capacity to generate 72 megawatts that can be sold on the open market.
There are also hydro plants in Las Cruces (14 MW), La Potra (30 MW), Salsipuedes (28 MW) that are also scheduled to come on line.
Another key part of the power grid is the wind farm Penonomé, Coclé, which can generate up to 220 megawatts.
Two solar plants are scheduled to begin production next year that will generate 20 megawatts. Dozens of new solar projects are awaiting licensing because the government has halted all new construction until it resolves issues with adding that energy to the grid.
Currently the energy consumed by the country comes from hydroelectric (51 percent), thermal-based bunker (25 percent), wind (10 percent), carbon (8 percent), self-generation (4 percent) and imports (2 percent.)
The drought has affected one of the country’s largest hydro projects in Bayano, while projects in Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí have maintained production.
The peak demand for electricity was July 2 when 1,612 megawatts were consumed.