Are small hydropower plants cost-competitive in Guatemala?

Small hydropower plants are also not cost-competitive in this region because hydraulic head is low. However, across the southern part of Guatemala, a mix of off-grid solar, small hydropower, and diesel generators make up the least-cost portfolio.

How much do people spend on energy in Guatemala?

In the urban area around Guatemala City, households spend on average 10–15% of monthly income on energy expenses (including electricity, kerosene, propane, coal, batteries, firewood, and candles). Only in a select few municipalities near Guatemala City center is the Energy Poverty Indicator below 10%.

Could energy poverty be impacted by energy development goals in Guatemala?

These are costs that could further burden electricity consumers if not managed efficiently. The government of Guatemala – as well as other governments of transitioning economies – can use frameworks like the one introduced here to better understand how electric sector development goals could impact energy poverty in their countries. 6.1.

What impact will energy stress have on Guatemala's economy?

More importantly, we find that the distribution of impacts will not be equal everywhere: households in the western, rural part of Guatemala that are already energy stressed will likely experience the greatest cost burdens because natural resource availability is low while overall poverty is already high.

Which part of Guatemala has the lowest electricity usage?

Meanwhile, the western part of Guatemala has both the lowest electricity usage (Fig. 7 A) and the lowest electricity expenditure as a fraction of total monthly expenditure (Fig. 7 B), suggesting that households in this part of the country tend to rely on other sources of energy such as firewood, kerosene, propane, coal, and candles.

Are there subsidies for non-residential sectors in Guatemala?

Renew. Energy, 132 (2019), pp. 1425 - 1435, 10.1016/j.renene.2018.08.093 There are little to no subsidies for non-residential sectors in Guatemala (Oré et al., 2017). The calculation of required power capacity for meeting demand does not consider grid requirements or other components typically included in a power-sizing model.