Chile: Solar Energy Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean

Amr M. Abdel Hai, Programme Officer for the Energy Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (left), and Eduardo Noboa, Renewable Energy and Environment Coordinator from the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE), organised a two-day workshop with the aim to strengthen the solar water heating markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. A total of 46 solar thermal experts from several countries (Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay) exchanged information, knowledge, lessons learned and successful experiences.
Photo: OLADE

The two-day seminar was organised as a regional workshop in the framework of the Global Solar Water Heating (GSWH) project. “We wanted to encourage the creation of a network of solar thermal experts in the public and private sector, and identify regions and countries that have a high potential for developing solar thermal energy,” Eduardo Noboa explains the purpose of the workshop. The main session included country reports from potential solar thermal markets across the region: Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru and Uruguay. 

Key input came from the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF). The Secretary General, Xavier Noyon, held two presentations – one about the importance of a structured solar thermal industry, and the second about guidelines and best practices for policy frameworks, awareness-raising and promotion campaigns.

This photo shows Xavier Noyon, Secretary General of ESTIF (on the left on the photo), discussing strategies of successful market development in working groups with participants.
Photo: OLADE

More information:
http://www.unep.org
http://www.undp.org
http://www.olade.org
http://www.globalenvironmentfund.com
http://www.copperinfo.com