Ricardo Guerrero-Lemus gained a doctorate in Physics from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1996), where he served as Associated Professor in the Department of Applied Physics between 1996 and 1999. In February 1999 he joined the Physics Department of the Universidad de La Laguna where currently is serving as Full Professor. He teaches in Conventional and Renewable Energies. He is also Affiliated Research Professor of the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute, Expert Member of the International Energy Agency PVPS program and board member of the Canary Government Energy Observatory. Since 2006, he is the Director of the Master in Renewable Energies at the University of La Laguna. He has been CEO of the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, Visiting Professor in the University of Texas at San Antonio, Chair in the Spanish Applied Economics Studies Foundation (FEDEA), and board member of the Technological Institute for Renewable Energies (ITER, SA), hydrowind power plant Gorona del Viento S.A. (El Hierro), Güímar and Granadilla Industrial Parks. He has given countless lectures and conducted training and specialization in the area of renewable energy. His research focuses on the field of renewable energy, energy efficiency and associated technologies, having published over seventy articles in JCR journals, and three books on technological trends, environmental impacts and cost analysis of the different renewable energy technologies and associated systems. He has been principal investigator of more than twenty national and international research projects and contracts with reputed companies in the area, as Abengoa and ENDESA (ENEL group). Finally, he is also project`s evaluator for the European Commission, Spanish Evaluation and Foresight Agency (ANEP) and other national and international institutions.  Dr. LesShephard joined the University of Texas – San Antonio as the Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair in Engineering and Director for the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute after serving nearly 29 years in various leadership capacities at Sandia National Laboratories. The Institute is actively involved in fundamental and applied energy research, technology deployment and demonstrations, energy and water policy formulation, and addressing water treatment, conservation and sustainability issues for Texas and the nation. Previously, Dr. Shephard served asthe Vice President of the Energy, Water and Nonproliferation Division at Sandia National Laboratories, a multi-program, science-based engineering laboratory located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this leadership capacity Shephard was actively engaged in pursuing technology solutions that address 21st century energy, water, security and environmental challenges and in leading programs that contribute to economic prosperity and global stability in regions of high strategic importance to the United States. This Division pursued fundamental and applied research leading to innovative breakthroughs that contributed to advancing America’s energy posture in traditional energy sources (i.e., fossil fuels, nuclear, etc.) the energy – water nexus, characterization of the geosphere, development of alternative transportation fuels, and advancing renewable energy technology options with a principal objective of contributing to a peaceful and free world through technology.>

• Executive summary.- General description.- Current energy context in Africa and Latin America.- Power grids.- Biomass for heating and power production.- Photovoltaics on-grid and off-grid.- Large and small solar thermal energy for producing heat-cool-power.- Hydropower and concerns.- Geothermal energy.- Wind energy.- Biofuels.- Waste-to-energy.- Natural gas.- Nuclear energy.

Ricardo Guerrero-Lemus gained a doctorate in Physics from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1996), where he served as Associated Professor in the Department of Applied Physics between 1996 and 1999. In February 1999 he joined the Physics Department of the Universidad de La Laguna where currently is serving as Full Professor. He teaches in Conventional and Renewable Energies. He is also Affiliated Research Professor of the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute, Expert Member of the International Energy Agency PVPS program and board member of the Canary Government Energy Observatory. Since 2006, he is the Director of the Master in Renewable Energies at the University of La Laguna. He has been CEO of the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, Visiting Professor in the University of Texas at San Antonio, Chair in the Spanish Applied Economics Studies Foundation (FEDEA), and board member of the Technological Institute for Renewable Energies (ITER, SA), hydrowind power plant Gorona del Viento S.A. (El Hierro), Güímar and Granadilla Industrial Parks. He has given countless lectures and conducted training and specialization in the area of renewable energy. His research focuses on the field of renewable energy, energy efficiency and associated technologies, having published over seventy articles in JCR journals, and three books on technological trends, environmental impacts and cost analysis of the different renewable energy technologies and associated systems. He has been principal investigator of more than twenty national and international research projects and contracts with reputed companies in the area, as Abengoa and ENDESA (ENEL group). Finally, he is also project`s evaluator for the European Commission, Spanish Evaluation and Foresight Agency (ANEP) and other national and international institutions.  Dr. LesShephard joined the University of Texas – San Antonio as the Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair in Engineering and Director for the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute after serving nearly 29 years in various leadership capacities at Sandia National Laboratories. The Institute is actively involved in fundamental and applied energy research, technology deployment and demonstrations, energy and water policy formulation, and addressing water treatment, conservation and sustainability issues for Texas and the nation. Previously, Dr. Shephard served asthe Vice President of the Energy, Water and Nonproliferation Division at Sandia National Laboratories, a multi-program, science-based engineering laboratory located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this leadership capacity Shephard was actively engaged in pursuing technology solutions that address 21st century energy, water, security and environmental challenges and in leading programs that contribute to economic prosperity and global stability in regions of high strategic importance to the United States. This Division pursued fundamental and applied research leading to innovative breakthroughs that contributed to advancing America’s energy posture in traditional energy sources (i.e., fossil fuels, nuclear, etc.) the energy – water nexus, characterization of the geosphere, development of alternative transportation fuels, and advancing renewable energy technology options with a principal objective of contributing to a peaceful and free world through technology.>

• Executive summary.- General description.- Current energy context in Africa and Latin America.- Power grids.- Biomass for heating and power production.- Photovoltaics on-grid and off-grid.- Large and small solar thermal energy for producing heat-cool-power.- Hydropower and concerns.- Geothermal energy.- Wind energy.- Biofuels.- Waste-to-energy.- Natural gas.- Nuclear energy.