COP30: New platform for grid expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean announced
Germany is providing 15 million Euro in funding for the platform through the International Climate Initiative.
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) announced the Power Transmission Acceleration Platform (PTAP) at the UN Climate Change Conference in Belém. The platform is a new regional effort to help countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) expand and modernise their energy grids and close the infrastructure gap.
The announcement followed a bilateral meeting between IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn and Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
Support is provided through the International Climate Initiative
During the meeting, German authorities announced their intention to contribute up to 15 million euros (around 17.3 million US dollars) through the International Climate Initiative to support implementation of PTAP. This will include 3 million euros (around 3.5 million US dollars) to directly support the 16 countries participating in the Renewables in Latin America and the Caribbean (RELAC) initiative which focusses on reaching at least 80 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
"Energy security in Latin America and the Caribbean depends on more than generation — it depends on having a reliable and resilient transmission grid," said Goldfajn. "With Germany’s support, PTAP will help countries strengthen transmission, unlock investment, and build more resilient energy systems. The IDB Group is acting as a bridge — connecting national priorities with global capital," he added.
Power grids as the backbone of the energy transition
"Grids are the backbone of the global energy transition; they are essential for achieving the target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. Germany, together with key partners, has prepared a grids package for COP30 that includes collaboration with IDB. As a longstanding partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, Germany is honoured to contribute to PTAP and welcomes the RELAC declaration on grids. PTAP and the declaration both support the transition towards resilient, decarbonised energy systems, provide opportunities for the private sector and enhance regional cooperation," said State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth.
The goal: modernisation and expansion of the electricity grids
PTAP is a regional platform that supports countries in modernising and expanding their power grids by improving planning, permitting, regulation, and investment frameworks. It is designed to mobilise private capital, reduce project delays and connect more renewable energy to the grid.
Over the past decade, the IDB Group has financed over one billion US dollars in transmission projects and supported regulatory reforms across the region. PTAP now adds dedicated capacity to convert plans into bankable projects, linking national energy priorities to regional public goods and global climate goals.
Strong partnership within the framework of the IKI
Germany's announcement reinforces a broader partnership with the IDB Group under IKI, which has delivered over 135 million euros (around 156.4 million US dollars) in support for climate and nature programmes across Latin America and the Caribbean since 2016. Recent initiatives include investments and reforms in fiscal policy, biodiversity, water security, and green finance, as well as the IKI-LAC Climate Private Sector Mobilisation Fund with IDB Invest, a 46 million euros fund (around 53.3 million US dollars), announced earlier this year. The Fund focusses on supporting and mobilising private sector investment in climate mitigation projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
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