CentAm roundup: Digitization roadmap, solar support, electrification plan

Digitization

Panama’s national energy department (SNE) published a digitization roadmap for the power sector that outlines five strategies, eight strategic objectives, seven goals and 24 action lines.

One target is that 80% of the medium and low voltage network have advanced digital monitoring and control systems by 2030, and another that advanced artificial intelligence systems be installed in at least 10% of transmission substations and 30% of distribution substations by 2035.

“The roadmap for digitization in Panama will allow the generation of analysis and corresponding studies to understand the impacts of policies aimed at digitization and identify technical and behavioral obstacles, as well as identify innovative solutions for these,” energy secretary Rosilena Lindo Riggs said in a statement.

The roadmap is available in the Documents box in the top right corner.

Solar support

Nicaragua’s state power company Enel installed photovoltaic systems at its 50MW Carlos Fonseca and 50MW Centro América hydroelectric plants.

The rooftop solar arrays are powering the plants’ adjacent works as well as administrative buildings among other installations, as part of efforts to reduce costs and contribute to sustainable development objectives.

Centro América plant (Credit: Enel)