Plan for the development of alternative energies in Bolivia until 2025
Background
Bolivia has an extraordinary potential for alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and biomass. However, this great potential has not been fully developed because most of the investment in electricity generation was directed to the generation of thermoelectric energy based on hydrocarbons (gas and oil).
The Bolivian power sector consists of two electrical systems:
1‐ The National Interconnected System (SIN) that supplies with electric power the main cities of the departments of La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, Potosi, Beni and Tarija.
2‐ The Isolated Systems (SA) supplying electric energy to the department of Pando and to the small and distant cities of the country.
The electric generation capacity in the National Interconnected System (SIN) in the year 2013 reached 1,422.8 MW, which are distributed as follows:
Power Source Power (MW) Participation (%)
Thermoelectric (natural gas) 890.3 62.6
Hydroelectric 475.7 33.4
Thermoelectric (diesel) 35.8 2.5
Biomass 21 1.5
TOTAL 1,422.8 100
On the other hand, the electric generation capacity in the isolated systems (SA) in 2013 reached 253.7 MW, which are distributed as follows:
Power Source Power (MW) Participation (%)
Thermoelectric (natural gas) 245.7 96.85
Hydroelectric 8 3.15
TOTAL 253.7 100
This shows that the share of alternative energy in the electric generation capacity of Bolivia is still minimal. Being the thermoelectric energy the main power source.
Policy of the electric sector in Bolivia
The policy of the national electric sector is the universal access to electricity for all Bolivian citizens, ensuring the energy sovereignty. The long‐term goal is to diversify the energy matrix, promoting alternative energies and export electric power to the region.
The Bolivian State considers the electric sector as strategic and fundamental to the economy. This sector is part of the Government’s vision of a Bolivia worthy, sovereign, productive and democratic for the "Living Well". Until 2025, Bolivia expects to become the main supplier of electric power in the region.
The Bolivian Government has four specific programs:
1‐ Power generation using alternative energies: aimed to diversify the energy matrix of the country.
2‐ Electricity to live with dignity: aimed to ensure the universal access to electricity, especially the rural population.
3‐ Policy development and institutional strengthening: aimed to strength and develop policies and institutions.
4‐ Development of research, promotion and dissemination: aimed to research and development, promotion and dissemination of alternative energies.
The Vice Ministry of Electricity and Alternative Energies has the General Direction of Alternative Energies which is responsible for implementing each of these programs. In addition, Bolivia has an Electrical Plan 2025 which main objective is to establish Electricity generation capacity in the SIN (MW) in 2013
Installed capacity in isolated systems (SA), 2013
guidelines for the development of the electric infrastructure to meet the domestic demand, the universal access to electricity and generate electrical surplus for export.
The institutions responsible for promoting the use of alternative energies in the country are: the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy through the Vice Ministry of Electricity and Alternative Energies, the Authority of Social Control of Electricity (AE), the National Committee of Power Dispatch (CNDC), the National Electricity Company (ENDE) and the concerned departmental governments and municipalities.
Energy potential for implementing alternative energies
All the Bolivian territory has potential to develop alternative energies: solar energy in the Altiplano region; wind power in the departments of La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz; geothermal energy in the department of Potosi; biomass energy in the departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and northern of La Paz; and hydroelectric power in the department of La Paz and in the rivers passing through the departments of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.
Solar potential
Bolivia has significant solar potential given the location and the geographical characteristics of the country. Solar projects can be promoted using photovoltaic panels or solar panels almost all around the country. However, the Altiplano region is the best place to install these projects because is the region with the highest incidence of solar radiation.
Wind potential
Bolivia has some specific areas with greater availability of wind, especially in the departments of La Paz and Santa Cruz where the average annual wind speed reaches 3 to 5 meters per second, which allows a power generation potential of 100 to 350 watts per square meter (W/m2).
Wind potential areas:
Department Municipality Location La Paz Ancoraimes Corpa Grande
Achachchi Walata Chico
Santa Cruz
Warnes Warnes
Urubó Colpa Bélgica La Bélgica San Julián San Julián Gutiérrez Lomas de Arena Pailón Riva Palacio
Pailón El Dorado
Hydropower potential
There are areas especially in the northern department of La Paz, where the hydroelectric potential of the country is significant, reaching up to 100 GWh/km2/year.
However, currently in Bolivia there is little information about this potential. The country needs a specific program of exploration, identification, study and classification of the hydro potential in order to develop more hydroelectric projects
Geothermal potential
The geothermal potential is the least studied in Bolivia. It is estimated that there are large geothermal sources in specific areas in the department of Potosi, such as the Sol de Mañana field located in the Laguna Colorada area where there temperatures are between 240‐260 Celsius degrees at depths between 1,100 and 1,700 meters. This area is suitable for the implementation of a geothermal project. However, Bolivia needs more exploration and studies to evaluate the geothermal potential.
Biomass potential
The existing biomass potential in Bolivia is important, especially in the eastern regions of the country due to the density of vegetation and intensive agricultural and livestock which produce different types of waste that can be used in power generation.
Currently, Bolivia uses sugarcane and chestnut shells as biomass resources for electricity generation.
Action plan for the development of alternative energy in Bolivia
In order to ensure compliance with the objectives and goals set out in the Electricity Plan of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the Patriotic Agenda 2025, the action plan focuses primarily on the development of the alternative energy sources described above and the diversification of the energy matrix.
Goals:
¾ Strengthen the National Interconnected System (SIN) incorporating approximately 252 MW of electricity produced by alternative energy sources.
¾ 100% of households and social infrastructure in rural areas will receive electric power through alternative energy sources.
¾ Incorporate to the Isolated Systems (SA) in the departments of Beni and Pando generation sources of alternative energies in order to reduce the natural gas consumption of the thermoelectric plants installed in these regions.
Power generation projects with alternative energy by 2025 Alternative energy projects to incorporate the SIN by 2025
Electric system Project Location Power Source Power
(MW)
Estimated Investment (million
dollars)
National Interconnected
System (SIN)
Qollpana I
Pocona ‐ Cochabamba
Wind
3 Project finished in 2014 Qollpana II
Santa Cruz According to potential measurements by ENDE
21 130
29 San
Buenaventura La Paz
Biomass 10
17
Laguna Colorada Potosi Geothermal 100 435
Photovoltaic park Altiplano, Oruro Solar 20 52
Subtotal (1) 183 634
Other projects National level Alternative Energies 59 126,85
Subtotal (2) 59 126,85
TOTAL (1+2) 242 760,85
Isolated System (SA) projects in the departments of Beni and Pando by 2025
Electric system Project Location Power Source Power (MW)
Estimated Investment
(million dollars)
Isolated System (SA)
photovoltaic
solar plant Pando Solar 5 Project finished
in 2014
hybrid systems
Towns of Beni ‐ Pando
Solar 4,6 11,96
Biomass
(gasification/other) 3,2 5,44
TOTAL 12,8 17,4
Projects for the households access to the electric service by 2025
Description Program Location Power source Homes to integrate
Estimated implementation
period
Estimated Investment
(million dollars) Access to basic
electricity service
Electricity to live with
dignity
Rural area of the country with homes away from
the electric network
Photovoltaic, Micro‐
hydroelectric
6,766 2013 ‐ 2015
89,47 28,652 2016 ‐ 2020
20,967 2021 ‐ 2025
TOTAL 56,385 2013 ‐ 2025 89,47
Projects for social infrastructure access to electric service by 2025
Description Program Location Power
source Sector Number of establishments
Implementation period
Estimated Investment
(million dollars)
Access to basic electricity
service
electricity program to
live with dignity (social infrastructure)
Establishments of the rural
area away from the
electric network
Photovoltaic
Health
70 2013 ‐ 2015
0,95
80 2016 ‐ 2020
60 2021 ‐ 2025
Education
500 2013 ‐2015
800 2016 ‐ 2020 6,3 100 2021 ‐ 2025 Community
telecenters
125 2013 ‐ 2015
2,33 140 2016 ‐ 2020
45 2021 ‐ 2025
TOTAL 1,920 2013 ‐ 2025 9,58
Total investment required by 2025
According to the planned projects, a total investment of 877.30 million dollars is required in order to install a power generation capacity of 251.12 MW, generated through alternative energy sources.
Application MW
Total investment required (million
dollars) Diversification of the energy matrix in the SIN 239 760,85
Isolated systems (SA) 7,8 17,4
Subtotal (1) 246,8 778,25
Access of electricity for homes 3,28 89,47
Access of electricity for Social Infraestructure 1,04 9,58 Subtotal (2) 4,32 99,05 TOTAL (1+2) 251,12 877,3
Reference location map of the alternative energy generation projects
