The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), through the Global Energy Districts Program (GEDP), and the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) signed a cooperation framework to promote the development of energy districts in Latin America and the Caribbean. The agreement was signed by Andr\u00e9s Rebolledo Smitmans, Executive Secretary of OLACDE, and Rana Ghoneim, Director of UNIDO\u2019s Energy and Climate Action Division, establishing a joint roadmap to strengthen enabling environments, technical knowledge, and the regional market for low-emission urban and industrial energy solutions.<\/p>\n
This cooperation framework seeks to address structural challenges in the region, such as growing energy demand, the need to decarbonize industrial processes, the rapid increase in cooling demand in tropical climates, and the urgency of integrating renewable energy at greater scale.<\/p>\n
Energy districts\u2014integrated systems that combine energy production, storage, and efficient distribution in urban or industrial areas\u2014can improve efficiency by 30% to 50%, reduce emissions, and optimize services such as heating, cooling, and industrial energy supply.<\/p>\n
The new partnership, initially planned for 2026\u20132027, will focus on four lines of action: support for public policy and institutional frameworks; knowledge sustainability and capacity building; market identification and analysis; and regional positioning through events and technical missions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are taking a strategic step to scale up proven solutions for energy efficiency and decarbonization in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through the Global District Energy Programme, UNIDO seeks to strengthen regulatory frameworks, technical capacities, and investment opportunities that will enable cities and industries in the region to move toward more resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon energy systems,\u201d said Rana Ghoneim, Director of the Energy and Climate Action Division at UNIDO.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor OLACDE, this alliance represents an opportunity to provide our member countries with technical tools, regional guidelines, and cooperation spaces that facilitate the integration of renewable energy and the modernization of urban and industrial energy planning. Energy districts can become a cornerstone of the regional energy transition,\u201d said Andr\u00e9s Rebolledo Smitmans, Executive Secretary of OLACDE.<\/p>\n
Through this cooperation, OLACDE and UNIDO will consolidate a regional knowledge hub, organize seminars and technical publications, promote collaboration with universities, and facilitate public policy dialogues with member countries, contributing to regional energy integration and the fulfillment of climate commitments. It is worth noting that GEDP\u2019s accumulated experience in Colombia\u2014where since 2013 it has strengthened institutional capacities, promoted techno-economic studies, and catalyzed private-sector-led projects\u2014has been key to advancing the program across Latin America, as well as in North Africa and Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The partnership will promote regional guidelines, market studies, and capacity-building initiatives during 2026\u20132027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":32788,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[252,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32790","noticias","type-noticias","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n