AES has announced the acquisition of a landfill gas to renewable energy project in Nejapa, El Salvador that is projected to generate an average of 400,000 Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) annually over the next 20 years. "The purchase of the Nejapa Landfill Project further demonstrates AES's global commitment to reducing greenhouse gases," said Bill Lyons, President, AES Climate Solutions.

"This transaction, one of the first acquisitions involving a Clean Development Mechanism project since the start of the Kyoto process, will help reduce emissions while providing power to the growing El Salvador market. This is the first of many opportunities we see for AES to invest in a broad range of projects and technologies that reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions."

AES Nejapa Gas will own and operate the gas gathering system at the Nejapa Landfill site. The company also will install and operate energy generation equipment to provide up to 25 MW of renewable energy from the capture and combustion of methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 21 times greater than carbon dioxide.

"Through investments in projects like Nejapa, which converts waste to energy, AES is working to provide citizens of El Salvador with a secure supply of energy today and well into the future," said Fernando Pujals, President, AES El Salvador. "We will continue to seek investments aimed at improving the quality of life for our customers and the communities we serve."

AES started its Climate Solutions business in 2005 and is building a portfolio of projects to lower greenhouse gas emissions by over 34 million tonnes each year by the end of 2012. The company's current global pipeline includes projects that could produce up to 19 million CERs annually from renewable energy generation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from third party sources - primarily methane - and energy efficiency initiatives.