The Peruvian energy sector will have to face up to a number of challenges in 2015: improving the quality of service, extending access to electricity throughout the country and investing in new network technologies. There is currently a wide gap between the capital, Lima, and the rest of the country, in terms of the quality, frequency and duration of service interruptions.
These issues were discussed at the recent Expo Energia Peru 2015 meeting in Lima. The Enel Group was represented by Juan Miguel Cayo, Director of Regulation for Edelnor, an Enel subsidiary, which distributes electricity to different areas of Peru. 'Progress has been made over the past decade in terms of service coverage, but we must continue to focus on this policy, extending it from rural and isolated areas to “peri-urban” areas (which are located between urban and rural areas),' stated Cayo. 'Access to electricity has a great impact on peoples' quality of life of and on its potential for development.'
The National Energy Policy approved by the Peruvian government marks a turning point: it's switching from gas oil and other imported fuels to a large-scale use of natural gas and renewable energy, of which the country has abundant reserves – particularly hydropower. Edelnor has over 750 megawatts of installed hydropower capacity and generates around 4.5 billion kilowatt-hours of zero-emissions energy.
The Enel Group is leading the way in this process: during theCOP20 (Climate Change conference held by the United Nations last December in Lima), Edelnor unveiled a new e-car for the Peruvian market. The 100 percent electric vehicle is equipped with a silent engine, contributing to the reduction of both air and noise pollution, and is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that has a range of up to 150 kilometres per charge. It also offers Peruvians significant benefits in terms of cost: the estimated cost for an average day of use is just over half of that of a gas vehicle and about one-seventh of a vehicle that runs on petrol.
'We need to invest in network management in order to achieve efficient and quality energy service throughout Peru,' concluded Mayo. 'Network automation, remote control technologies and LED street lighting will help reduce the gap between the capital and other areas of the country.'