10:00 - 11:30

Latin American countries are beginning to realize their wind and solar potentials and foster their development through advocacy from state-aided programs such as Brazil’s PROINFA and Chile’s CER and by setting national renewable energy targets. The Inter-American Development Bank, previously primarily a lender to governments is also actively participating in private lending for solar and wind development. In March it was reported that the bank was partnering with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to co-finance $600 million in renewable energy project development in Latin America and the Caribbean. While political support is growing for the renewable energy industry (evidenced by the wealth of regulatory incentive structures), lack of and/or poor infrastructure remains a powerful barrier.

In this meeting we examine the investment appetite for alternative energy development and energy efficiency in Latin America.

• Which countries in Latin America are most alluring for foreign alternative energy investments?
• What types of projects are of interest at the moment? (centralized vs. distributed generation, retrofits vs. new construction regarding transmission)?
• What is the ROI on current projects?
• What macroeconomic trends are will influence future investments?
• Where are the largest sources of capital and what financing mechanisms/incentives exist for private players investing in renewable energy projects in Latin America?
• Can government incentives explain most of the reduction in cost of wind energy in Brazil?
• How are Latin American governments working to address poor infrastructure?
• Are the lack of legacy systems a blessing or curse?

Networking Lunch 

12:15 - 12:30

12:30 - 2:00

          China, Germany, and the United States dominate most discussions addressing the global renewable energy market. Well over half of the global investments in renewable energy are found in these three nations alone. But this does not make them, by any measure, the only game in town.

India has become one of the World’s most active and promising renewable energy markets. As the renewable energy market leader in South Asia, it has created a $185 billion revenue generating market that, in 2010 alone, added 2.7 GW of grid-connected renewable energy capacity to India’s existing renewable energy portfolio. Since the 1980’s, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has worked to encourage diversification of India’s energy portfolio. Renewable energy friendly policies include feed-in tariffs, customs and sales tax relief on relevant technologies, soft loans, and generation based incentives for solar and wind projects. One example of the national push towards renewables is India’s National Solar Mission, which aims to install at least 20GW of solar power by 2022.

                India’s market potential has become increasingly tempting for those looking to enter the market. It currently has the fifth highest wind power capacity in the world and is one of the world’s leading renewable energy manufacturing countries. India, along with China and Brazil, holds the most promise for employment expansion with renewable energy market growth.

                This special AGRION roundtable discussion will address the most pertinent, engaging, and current topics in India’s expanding renewable energy market.

§  What national policies are currently driving market growth in India?

o   What are the national regulations?

o   What are the national incentives?

§  What are the major projects in renewable energy across the country?

§  What opportunities are open for market entry and growth?

§  What market sectors (wind, solar, smart grid etc.) hold the most potential for near term growth? Long term?

§  What are the current market trends within the various RE industries?

§  What other industries hold a stake in the success or failure of renewable energy in India?

 

Gabriela da Rocha Oliveira, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Head of Latin American Research and Analysis (Moderator)