The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has launched an urgent call for project proposals aimed at scaling up clean energy deployment and accelerating access to finance across Latin America.
Developers and governments are invited to submit investment-ready proposals by 1 March 2026, the deadline to secure priority assessment within the multilateral agenda. The initiative seeks to position projects as catalysts for transforming the region’s power mix, ranging from solar PV and wind power to innovative bioenergy solutions and energy storage and backup technologies.
Projects selected under the call may be considered for financing through the Climate Investment Platform (CIP) and IRENA’s Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) facility. Participation offers potential access to capital, investment partnerships and risk-mitigation instruments designed to speed up project development and financial close.
Eligible countries
The call is open to projects located in: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
How to apply
To qualify for the CIP, projects must have progressed beyond the concept stage and be aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as national climate action priorities.
The ETAF platform, meanwhile, focuses on medium- to large-scale projects requiring substantial capital investment. Eligible initiatives must have completed full feasibility studies and demonstrate readiness to receive financing, including clear pathways to grid integration and bankability.
The CIP is a joint initiative led by IRENA together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Its goal is to mobilise capital and impact investment for renewable energy projects in developing economies.
Eligibility criteria
Climate Investment Platform (CIP)
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The project supports the clean energy transition, national climate priorities and the SDGs.
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Pre-feasibility or preliminary studies have been completed.
Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF)
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Minimum capital expenditure of USD 25 million for private or public–private partnership (PPP) projects, or USD 10 million for public-sector projects.
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Advanced project readiness, including a full feasibility study, confirmed grid access, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and financial structuring.
The IRENA call comes at a time when regional bodies such as the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organisation (OLACDE) are stressing the importance of regional cooperation to meet ambitious targets. Initiatives like RELAC, which aims for 70% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030, underline the scale of investment needed—particularly to multiply solar and wind capacity across Latin America over the coming decades.
