Central America power roundup: Solar grid access, hydro study, license cancellation

Central America power interconnection commission CRIE authorized a solar plant in Guatemala to access the regional transmission network.

The approval is for Solar El Progreso’s 100.1MW Santo Tomás project and associated transmission line and substation.

The green light followed fulfillment of technical, legal and environmental requirements, and recommendations for approval from the country’s power regulator CNEE, wholesale market administrator AMM and regional Siepac grid operator EOR.

Hydro study

Honduras state power company Enee expects final studies for the 20MW El Tablón multipurpose hydro project to be ready in January.

The information will cover design, topography, hydrology, risk and optimum reservoir size, among other data.

License cancellation

Panama’s public services regulator Asep canceled the provisional license for a solar park planned for Veraguas province.

The license for the 19.8MWac (23.8MWdc) Chumical project, also known as Martincito Solar, was granted to developer SB-6 in April 2023.

The watchdog said SB-6 did not submit a request to extend the license in a timely manner, nor all the documents required to obtain the definitive license.

The developer requested the extension due to what it said were delays in securing authorization from Banco de Desarrollo Agropecuario and the connection approval from the power distributor.