The webinar “Exploring Sustainable Energy Storage: Technologies Available Today” established itself as a high-level technical forum to discuss the strategic role of energy storage in the transition process of electricity systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) within the framework of the ETRELA project (“Enhancing, Expanding, and Facilitating Access to Renewable Energy Education and Training in Latin America”), funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Government.
The objective of the event was to analyze currently available storage technologies, assessing their technical performance, economic viability, environmental impacts, and scalability challenges. Solutions such as lithium batteries, thermal storage, compressed air systems, and emerging CO₂-based technologies were addressed.
In her opening remarks, Gloria Alvarenga, OLACDE’s Director of Integration, Access, and Energy Security, stressed that “strengthening technical capacities in energy storage is essential to having infrastructure that is more resilient, inclusive, and adapted to the challenges of climate change.”
For his part, Andrés Rebolledo, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, emphasized that “storage is becoming an essential component in the transformation of the regional electricity system. In a context of accelerated transition, as demonstrated by the recent European energy crisis, it is indispensable to guarantee sustainability, security, and stability.”
From Canada, José Condor, senior analyst at British Columbia’s Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions, emphasized that 70% of global energy consumption still depends on fossil fuels. “Storage is key to decarbonizing the energy mix, integrating renewables, and optimizing resource use. The Kaya identity shows that technological change must be accompanied by effective public policies and social commitment,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Paola Hartung, Manager of Regulatory and Government Affairs at AES Andes (Chile), presented Chile’s experience, which already has more than 1,000 MW in operation and 6,700 MW in storage projects. Hartung warned about renewable energy curtailment, which reached 40% in 2024, and highlighted that “storage is not an option, it is a necessity for the energy transition to be safe, efficient, and sustainable.”
The event also addressed critical aspects such as project financing, technological innovation, risks associated with critical mineral supply chains, and the urgency of flexible regulatory frameworks.
The webinar is part of a series of actions promoted by OLACDE and ETRELA to strengthen regional capacities in renewable energy and foster the use of storage technologies as an indispensable tool on the path toward sustainable and modern electricity systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.
