The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) held the webinar “Smart Electrical Grids and New Energy Vectors for the Energy Transition,” a high-level technical forum aimed at analyzing the challenges facing the region’s energy systems amid growing renewable energy penetration, the expansion of power electronics, and the need to ensure stability, security, and resilience in modern electrical grids.
The event was held with the aim of offering an integrated view of the structural transformation of electrical systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, addressing both the operational challenges and the opportunities associated with the incorporation of new energy vectors.
During the opening remarks, Gloria Alvarenga, OLACDE’s Director of Integration, Access, and Energy Security, emphasized that the energy transition must be understood as a profound process that redefines how electrical systems are planned, operated, and protected. “The energy transition requires comprehensive and collaborative solutions to build more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive systems.”
For his part, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, Andrés Rebolledo, noted that the energy systems of Latin America and the Caribbean are undergoing an accelerated transformation, driven by technological advances, decarbonization agendas, and the emergence of diversified energy solutions. “Latin America and the Caribbean is moving toward a multi-energy scenario where electrification, decarbonization, and innovation must advance together.”
Rebolledo pointed out that, while the region has one of the highest levels of renewable energy penetration in electricity generation, this segment represents only part of total energy demand. He therefore emphasized the need to accelerate the decarbonization of other sectors by promoting biofuels, biomass, and new green molecules.
In the technical segment, Dr. Alejandro Garcés addressed the challenges associated with operating electrical systems dominated by renewable sources and power electronics. He explained that the growing integration of solar generation, storage, and hydrogen is turning the power inverter into a central component of 21st-century electrical systems. “Basic research is not a luxury, but a necessity to ensure the stability of modern electrical systems.”
The specialist highlighted phenomena such as reduced inertia, greater sensitivity to disturbances, and new challenges in protection and control, noting that research is key to ensuring stable and secure operation in grids with high renewable penetration.
In turn, Clara Ortiz presented a comprehensive view of the potential of biomass and agro-industrial waste in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting its strategic role in the production of biofuels and synthetic fuels. She explained how byproducts of coffee, African palm, and sugarcane can be converted into useful energy through processes such as fermentation, gasification, and advanced synthesis.
“Biomass and synthetic fuels offer enormous potential for strengthening energy security and advancing toward a low-carbon economy.”
Ortiz noted that these energy vectors make it possible to diversify the energy mix, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and promote circular economy models based on local resources. She also emphasized the importance of integrating biofuels, green hydrogen, and polygeneration schemes into modern grids to strengthen the resilience of energy systems.
The workshop also addressed priority lines of action for the region, including the development of inverter-dominated smart grids, the incorporation of grid-forming inverters to provide stability, the promotion of agro-industrial biomass as an energy vector, the advancement of technological sovereignty in power electronics, and the updating of grid codes to meet new operational requirements.
With this webinar, OLACDE reaffirms its role as a regional technical platform for knowledge exchange, specialized training, and the promotion of innovative solutions that enable Latin America and the Caribbean to move toward safer, more resilient, and more sustainable energy systems.
Watch the full webinar at the following link : https://youtu.be/9WCLwA4lEfc
