The enormous potential of energy resources in Central America is attracting the interest of Spanish renewables companies, which are preparing to enter the solar, wind and biodiesel sectors.

Spanish renewable companies are looking to take on projects which will reduce Central America’s dependency on oil, a challenge that has been well received in this region possessing huge natural resource potential. Companies such as Negratín, which specializes in solar photovoltaic energy, believe that this particular energy source is the way of the future in Central America, given that it is beginning to be economically viable, competitive and self-sustaining thanks to recent technological advances.

The International Forum for Renewable Energy in Central America, organized by the Trade Promotion Agency of Andalusia (Extenda), in Miami, was a reflection of this trend. This event involved the participation of a dozen specialized Spanish companies.

The Spanish company Bioprocessors has patented a process to produce biodiesel. The firm specializes in using all types of waste oils (sunflower, palm, coconut and rapeseed) to produce biodiesel. This fuel can then be used in vehicles with pioneering technology allowing them to be powered by these waste products.

The substitute for gasoline in the future will be bioethanol, while biodiesel will substitute diesel fuel. The company’s pioneering technology reduces implementation costs by 40% compared to current technologies, while production costs are 30% lower. Overall the cost of the final product is substantially cheaper.

Other Spanish companies participating in this Forum were Hucu Solar, Termicol, Prodiel, Melfosur, Realza and Elmya, all of which specialize in the renewable energy sector.