The Dominican Republic will move forward with a new tender to incorporate battery energy storage systems (BESS) into existing renewable energy projects. Ricardo Guerrero, Vice-Minister of Electric Energy, announced the initiative during the opening of the Future Energy Summit (FES) Caribbean, which gathered more than 400 industry stakeholders.
SWe will continue with tenders.
We are already working on a new round aimed at existing projects that will also add storage," Guerrero confirmed.
The announcement came during the first panel of the event and signals continuity of the competitive scheme EDES-LP-NGR-01-2025, which combined 600 MW of renewable energy with battery storage and attracted bids totalling over 1,500 MWp and nearly 1,300 MWh.
This process sent strong signals to the market: intense competition, widespread developer interest and economic conditions that validated the model.
Authorities are even considering expanding the awarded capacity to 605.1 MW to include the eight most promising projects, reinforcing a long-term vision.
The official award announcement is expected in the coming days.
Guerrero also noted that the upcoming tender aligns with the country"s updated energy planning framework, which is due to be published shortly.
Within this context, installed capacity in the Dominican Republic has grown from around 5 GW to more than 7.5 GW in recent years an increase of over 50%.
In 2025 alone, an additional 1,200 MW was added, with 58% coming from renewable energy sources such as solar PV and wind power.
Renewables now account for approximately 25% of electricity supply, consolidating progress towards a more diversified energy mix.
Energy storage is becoming a critical component for grid stability and integration of renewables.
"For 2026, we expect to incorporate at least 138 MW, alongside ongoing processes that will add no less than 500 MW in the short term," Guerrero had previously stated during the opening session.
He also outlined the scale of the emerging storage market.
In addition to awarded projects, the national transmission company ETED (Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica Dominicana) is evaluating 600 MW of storage capacity, with a further 200 MW under analysis and additional private developments underway.
"No less than 1,200 MW before 2028," Guerrero stated, setting a clear baseline for BESS growth in the country.
Investment momentum and regulatory supportThe expansion of energy storage is supported by an active regulatory environment and strong private sector interest, with developers and investors already positioning themselves to capture opportunities across the value chain.
During the event, it was highlighted that the Superintendencia de Electricidad has introduced multiple regulatory adjustments to enable storage deployment, while financiers are actively exploring project pipelines.
At the same time, the power sector continues to attract increasing levels of investment.
According to Guerrero, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the electricity sector reached approximately USD 1.2 billion over the past year, reinforcing confidence in the Dominican market.
This growth is accompanied by transmission infrastructure upgrades and the addition of firm generation capacity, facilitating greater integration of renewable energy alongside storage solutions key pillars for grid modernisation and energy transition.
"The government is fully aware that we need batteries now⬦ and we will implement them transparently, ensuring security for all stakeholders," Guerrero concluded.
The Future Energy Summit Caribbean continues this Tuesday with a second half-day session, where technical and regulatory discussions will further shape the development of energy storage, grid integration and renewable energy across the region.