Latin America and the Caribbean: Pioneers in the Global Energy Transition

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Latin America Energy Outlook 2023 report cover
Latin America Energy Outlook 2023

The latest IEA report, Latin America Energy Outlook, shines a spotlight on Latin America and the Caribbean, underscoring their pivotal role in the global energy landscape amidst rising geopolitical uncertainties and rapid energy transitions. This region, rich in energy and mineral resources and a leader in clean energy, is poised to significantly influence both regional and global energy sectors.

A Resource-Rich Region with a Clean Energy Legacy

The Latin America Energy Outlook, IEA’s first comprehensive analysis covering all 33 countries in the region, reveals a treasure trove of resources. From renewables like hydropower, wind, and solar to oil, gas, and vital minerals, the region is well-equipped to contribute to global energy security and clean transitions. This report is a culmination of extensive collaboration with regional governments, experts, and stakeholders, building on IEA’s long-standing engagement with the area.

Renewables account for 60% of the region’s electricity production, double the global average, with hydropower leading the charge. Countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina are also home to some of the best wind and solar resources globally. Furthermore, the region is a significant bioenergy player and a leading biofuel exporter.

A Potential Global Energy Powerhouse

Latin America and the Caribbean hold about 15% of the world’s oil and natural gas resources. The region is also crucial for producing minerals essential for clean energy technologies, boasting about half of the world’s lithium reserves and significant proportions of copper and silver. This clean electricity supply is the backbone for sustainable mining and processing of these materials.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol highlights the region’s potential in the new global energy economy, emphasizing the need for supportive policies and international cooperation to fully harness this potential.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Despite the promise, the report identifies a policy implementation gap. While 16 of the 33 countries have committed to net-zero emissions by mid-century, current policies still heavily rely on fossil fuels, especially for road transport. However, if pledges are realized, renewables could meet all new energy demands this decade, increasing oil exports and driving low-cost, low-emissions hydrogen production. This shift would also double long-term revenues from critical minerals to nearly USD 200 billion.

Key Actions and Investments for a Sustainable Future

To reduce energy-related CO2 emissions, the report suggests four key actions: ramping up renewable energy, electrifying industry and transport, advancing energy efficiency, and improving access to clean cooking solutions. Investment in clean energy projects needs to double by 2030 to USD 150 billion and rise fivefold by 2050.

Towards a Greener Future

The region, already engaged in the Global Methane Pledge and the Glasgow Pledge to halt deforestation, is on a promising path. The IEA is committed to supporting these transitions, as Latin America and the Caribbean stride towards a secure and fairer global energy system.

The Rising Challenge of Space Debris: ESA’s 2023 Space Environment Report Highlights the Need for Sustainable Practices

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LEO - Low Earth Orbit - Credit: NASA ODPO.
LEO stands for low-Earth orbit and is the region of space within 2,000 km of the Earth’s surface. It is the most concentrated area for orbital debris. Credit: NASA ODPO.

Navigating the Crowded Cosmos

As the Earth’s orbital space becomes increasingly populated with satellites crucial for scientific research, communication, and navigation, the burgeoning issue of space debris poses a threat to our sustainable future in space. The ESA’s 2023 Space Environment Report casts a sobering light on the crowded and hazardous orbits, underlining the urgency for effective space debris mitigation measures.

The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee’s guidelines set forth in 2002, aimed at reducing space debris, have become the foundation for space policy. However, with a record-breaking 2,409 new satellites launched in 2022, these guidelines are being outpaced by the sheer volume of space traffic. Many satellites remain in their operational orbits post-mission, creating potential debris clouds that could linger for years. With the rise of commercial satellite constellations in low-Earth orbits, the risk of collisions has grown exponentially, necessitating more frequent collision avoidance maneuvers.

Despite improvements in adopting debris mitigation measures, the ESA report suggests that current efforts are insufficient given the rate of satellite launches and existing debris. Over half of the 30,000 tracked debris pieces are cluttering low-Earth orbit, which doesn’t account for the countless smaller, untracked objects. The report warns that if we continue on this path, the dream of a sustainable space environment could slip through our fingers.

A Silver Lining

Nevertheless, there is a silver lining. A record number of satellites and fragments reentered Earth’s atmosphere in 2022, showing that adherence to guidelines — like vacating protected orbits within 25 years of end-of-life — is improving. Moreover, more than 80% of constellation satellites are now designed to deorbit within two years post-mission. Yet, most of these reentries are uncontrolled, posing risks of debris landing unpredictably on Earth.

ESA’s proactive steps include the novel “assisted reentry” technique, successfully demonstrated with the Aeolus satellite, and pioneering the ClearSpace-1 mission for active debris removal. These initiatives are part of ESA’s Zero Debris goal for 2030, aiming to leave no new space debris in critical orbits. By setting a precedent with the ClearSpace-1 mission, ESA aspires to catalyze a new commercial sector focused on debris removal and promote sustainable space operations industry-wide.

Time to Act

The 2023 report from ESA serves as a call to action for the global space community. The space around our planet is a finite, invaluable resource that demands our immediate attention and stewardship to prevent the dire predictions of Kessler Syndrome from becoming a reality.

…. fragments from future collisions will be generated faster than atmospheric drag will remove them.”

The Kessler Syndrome, as discussed by Donald J. Kessler, March 8, 2009

With continued focus and innovation in space sustainability, we can ensure that the benefits of space advancements are not overshadowed by the growing cloud of orbital debris. It’s time to act and safeguard our space environment for future generations.

Harnessing the Power of Rocks: A Sustainable Leap in Renewable Energy Storage

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Nathan Schroeder, Walter Gerstle, and Luke McLaughlin discuss the design or an energy storage system that is being researched in by CSolPower and Sandia Labs. Photo by Craig Fritz.
Nathan Schroeder, Walter Gerstle, and Luke McLaughlin discuss the design or an energy storage system that is being researched in by CSolPower and Sandia Labs. Photo by Craig Fritz.

The Rock-Bed Revolution

New Mexico-based CSolPower, in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories, is pioneering a novel and cost-effective energy storage system using rocks. This groundbreaking approach aims to bolster the adoption of renewable energy sources, specifically solar and wind, by ensuring energy availability during high-demand periods or when these sources are intermittent.

According to Luke McLaughlin, a Sandia mechanical engineer, the storage system integrates renewable energy into an electrically charged thermal energy structure. Interestingly, regular gravel from landscaping firms can be employed in this system, eliminating the need for extensive preparation.

Under the lens at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility, a compact 100-kilowatt-hour test rig showcased the rock bed’s potential. With the ongoing installation of photovoltaic panels, the intent is to demonstrate the bed’s proficiency in using intermittent energy.

Walter Gerstle, CSolPower’s co-founder, emphasized the system’s versatility: “One of the advantages of thermal energy storage in rocks is that it can be built anywhere. It can be commodified and doesn’t require extensive permitting. We believe it can be implemented more quickly and economically than other approaches.”

One standout feature of CSolPower’s invention is its long-duration energy storage. Tests indicated that the rock bed could be heated to over 900°F and maintained for up to 20 hours. This facilitates storing excess daytime electricity as heat, which can later be used for warming water and homes in the evening.

Set for continued prototype testing till June 2024, CSolPower is keen on transitioning this lab-scale initiative into a market-ready solution. Successful trials might soon see northern New Mexico greenhouses utilizing this rock bed technology to maintain optimal temperatures throughout the year.

The Technology Readiness Gross Receipts initiative funds this project phase, aiming to aid New Mexico businesses in commercializing their innovations.

This rock-bed solution represents a promising stride towards green electricity generation and broadens the horizon for sustainable energy storage.