Latin America and the Caribbean have abundant renewable resources and a strategic opportunity to move towards more sustainable, resilient, and competitive development models. In a context marked by urban growth, increased demand for cooling, and the need to reduce emissions without compromising economic and social development, energy districts are emerging as an innovative solution to transform how cities, industries, and communities produce and consume energy.
These systems integrate electricity, heat, cooling, storage, and renewable energy through shared infrastructure, allowing for resource optimization, cost reduction, waste heat recovery, and strengthened resilience. Experiences developed in Chile, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic demonstrate their potential for district heating and cooling, energy efficiency, urban sustainability, and energy integration in sectors such as industry, industrial clusters, and tourism.
However, their regional expansion faces regulatory, financial, technical, and institutional barriers, including a lack of integrated urban and energy planning, specific frameworks, technical capabilities, and bankable projects.
The panel will analyze whether energy districts can become a platform for driving green industrialization, competitiveness, and decarbonization, as well as the policies, business models, and cooperation mechanisms needed to consolidate a regional market for integrated energy solutions.
