Bridging the Infrastructure Gap in Latin America and the Caribbean
In November 2025, the IDB announced the creation of the Power Transmission Acceleration Platform (PTAP), thanks to a €15 million commitment from Germany’s International Climate Initiative. The initiative is designed to help Latin American and Caribbean countries modernize and expand their transmission and grid infrastructures—closely linked to unlocking renewable energy and improving system reliability. With many countries in the region facing ageing networks, high losses, and limited inter‐connection, PTAP aims to be the structural bridge between
planning and investment readiness.
From Planning to Bankable Projects
PTAP’s design is focused not just on technical upgrades but on accelerating project preparation: it supports reform of regulatory frameworks, streamlines permitting, enhances transmission planning, and mobilises private capital. The German funding includes some €3 million directed to the “Renewables in Latin America and the Caribbean (RELAC)” initiative, targeting a 2030 goal of at least 80% renewable electricity share. This approach recognizes that transmission is often the bottleneck—without reliable grids, renewable generation cannot scale, and investment remains stuck in feasibility.
Strategic Implications for Regional Energy Transition
For Latin America and the Caribbean, the new platform signals a commitment to treat energy infrastructure as strategic national and regional infrastructure, rather than piecemeal projects. As renewable targets rise, the need for resilient, interconnected grids becomes a development priority as much as an energy one. For investors and governments, PTAP offers a mechanism to de-risk investments, align with global climate goals, and capture value beyond generation—into transmission, storage, and network services. This marks a shift from seeing grids as supporting cast to viewing them as core enablers of both climate resilience and economic growth.