OLACDE and Kara Solar drive riverine electric mobility in the Amazon

In a step toward decarbonizing transportation in critical ecosystems, the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) and the Kara Solar Foundation signed an agreement to promote electric mobility in the Amazon basin. This alliance seeks to contribute to the transformation of river transport, replacing dependence on fossil fuels with clean technologies through the development of electric navigation infrastructure adapted to the needs of local communities.

The agreement, signed by OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, Andrés Rebolledo, and Kara Solar’s founder, Oliver Utne, establishes a cooperation framework for financing and technical support in building solar-electric boats. For OLACDE, this effort represents a concrete action within its mission to foster the integration and use of regional energy resources, positioning electric mobility not only as an urban solution, but as a vital tool for the sustainability of remote territories across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The agreement also includes a technical training and knowledge transfer agenda for this technology. OLACDE will incorporate its training processes and virtual platforms to strengthen the capacities of the communities involved. This comprehensive approach seeks to ensure that the transition to electric river transport is backed by the academic and technical support needed to guarantee its long-term operability in the complex Amazonian environment.

The project led by Kara Solar stands out for its community co-creation model, in which solar technology is placed at the service of sustainable territorial management. By joining this initiative, OLACDE institutionally validates an innovative solution that can be replicated in other river systems across the region, promoting a model of energy access that respects environmental balance and improves connectivity for Amazonian populations through low-emission solutions.

With the signing of this agreement, valid through December 2027, both organizations reaffirm their commitment to technological leadership and the energy transition. This instrument is a step forward in the regional mobility agenda, demonstrating that the energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean is possible from the heart of the rainforest, uniting international technical cooperation with local innovation to protect one of the planet’s most important ecosystems.

For more information, contact:

Diana Soriano, Head of Communications.

diana.soriano@olacde.org

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OLACDE and Kara Solar drive riverine electric mobility in the Amazon

Newsletter summary

In a step toward decarbonizing transportation in critical ecosystems, the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) and the Kara Solar Foundation signed an agreement to promote electric mobility in the Amazon basin. This alliance seeks to contribute to the transformation of river transport, replacing dependence on fossil fuels with clean technologies through the development […]

Knowledge and Training

We promote advanced technical training programs that facilitate the exchange of experiences, as well as the development of the human and institutional capacities needed to support the energy transformations in our region.

Our academic offering includes executive programs, postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees, and innovative initiatives focused on topics such as energy transition, conventional energy, renewable energy, e-mobility, and regional integration.

OLACDE creates a regional network focused on energy knowledge that connects governments, young professionals, academics, and sector experts to drive collaborative solutions through technical cooperation and talent development to address future energy and climate challenges.

Technical cooperation and financing

We strengthen South-South and triangular cooperation ties as drivers to accelerate energy transitions in Latin America and the Caribbean. OLACDE brings together efforts among governments, multilateral organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector to mobilize financing, technical capacities, and innovative solutions tailored to our regional reality.

We promote strategic initiatives aimed at directing resources toward projects focused on decarbonization, conventional energy, renewable energy, and energy justice, with the objective of establishing a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable regional cooperation architecture.

Regional Energy Community

We are building a regional energy community with a global outlook that seeks to position Latin America and the Caribbean as a key player on the international stage. OLACDE strengthens its representation in major multilateral forums related to energy, trade, and climate by fostering strategic alliances and promoting international cooperation.

Through events such as Energy Week, together with new spaces for international dialogue, we promote a collective voice that helps attract financial investment and create new opportunities for sustainable development across our region.

Energy Transition and Strategic Projects

We drive an energy transition based on principles of sustainability, energy security, and social inclusion. OLACDE supports countries in adopting new technologies related to energy efficiency, energy storage, green hydrogen, electromobility, and grid digitalization to accelerate the sector’s decarbonization process.

Our approach also includes promoting strategic projects that strengthen energy resilience at the regional level, contributing to emission reductions while consolidating a cleaner and more competitive energy infrastructure. Initiatives such as OEMLAC position our region as a leading reference in climate innovation and sustainable energy transition.

Energy information and data

We develop regional platforms dedicated to energy information, technical analysis, and strategic data systems that strengthen both public and private decision-making in the sector. OLACDE promotes the digital transformation of the sector through the use of artificial intelligence, georeferencing, and advanced tools for regional energy analysis.

The integration of systems such as SieLAC, together with new regional platforms, allows for the consolidation of reliable and up-to-date technical information, facilitating modern, interoperable, and evidence-based energy planning.

Regional Energy Integration

We promote cooperation in the regional energy sector, focused on collaboration, infrastructure development, and regulatory harmonization, with the objective of strengthening energy security in Latin America and the Caribbean. OLACDE coordinates projects related to electrical interconnection, gas integration, and regional energy planning, seeking to create efficient and sustainable partnerships.

Through cooperation with the governments of our 27 member countries, regional blocs, multilateral institutions, and both public and private stakeholders, we drive strategic initiatives that promote regulatory harmonization and new energy exchange mechanisms, in order to enhance national capacities and accelerate an integrated energy transition at the regional level.