The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) took part in the event “Data Centers and Energy in the Andes: Reliability and Mapping Supply and Demand,” organized by the Institute of the Americas in Santiago, Chile. The gathering brought together leaders from the private sector, governments, and NGOs to analyze the challenges and opportunities of the growing data center market in the Andean region, with an emphasis on reliability and energy supply and demand to ensure sustainable development.
The event featured OLACDE’s participation and aimed to generate knowledge to strengthen regulation and promote a sustainable energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Among the topics addressed were:
• Growth of the data center market: The sector in Latin America is experiencing rapid growth, with steadily increasing investment.
• Sustainability and renewable energy: The need to ensure that this expansion takes place sustainably, as reflected in Microsoft’s commitment to operate on 100% renewable energy.
• Energy regulation: The urgency of updating regulatory frameworks to keep pace with the transformation of power systems and the adoption of new technologies.
• Development and energy transition: OLACDE’s role in strengthening capacities, generating knowledge, and promoting regulations that drive regional sustainability.
During his remarks, Fitzgerald Cantero, OLACDE’s Director of Studies, Projects and Information, noted that data centers have become indispensable infrastructure for the digital economy. He pointed out that in Latin America and the Caribbean, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina account for 78% of the region’s data centers, and that projections estimate their consumption will represent 5% of regional electricity demand by 2035. Cantero stressed that attracting investment, energy integration, and technical training will be decisive factors in turning this trend into an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient energy transition.
