As part of the III Power & Renewable Energies 2025, organized by Seminarium Ecuador, the Executive Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), Andrés Rebolledo, highlighted the strategic role of Latin America and the Caribbean in the global energy transition, underscoring the region’s progress, structural challenges, and opportunities.
During his remarks, the Executive Secretary emphasized that Latin America and the Caribbean’s electricity matrix is 69% composed of renewable sources, making it the cleanest in the world. However, he also noted that the region uses only 2% of its solar potential and 29% of its hydroelectric potential, representing a significant opportunity for expansion. In addition, the region currently produces 27% of biofuels worldwide, reinforcing its role in diversifying sustainable energy sources.
Rebolledo called for a comprehensive approach to some of the main challenges facing the regional energy system, such as curtailment of unused renewable energy, storage deficits, and the need for backup technologies. In this context, he outlined three strategic lines of action:
- Deepen regional energy integration to increase resilience, optimize resources, and strengthen energy security.
- Strengthen electricity planning and mobilize public and private investment, particularly in transmission infrastructure, storage, and grid digitalization.
- Promote a just energy transition, with a gender focus, social inclusion, universal access, and improved service quality.
At OLACDE, we reaffirm our commitment to providing technical support to member countries, promoting sound regulatory frameworks, reliable data, and strategic planning to accelerate decarbonization, improve system efficiency, and ensure that the energy transition is sustainable and equitable throughout the region.
