Batteries are beginning to gain ground among Dominican industries and businesses as a tool to reduce electricity costs, a trend that Unitrade identifies as one of the main drivers for accelerating the storage market in the country.
The change responds to the growing interest in applications such as peak shaving to manage peak demand and optimize energy consumption, beyond the traditional backup in the event of supply cuts.
"Normally, in the Latin American market people think that we have a battery to make a backup or for when the power goes out at a very critical moment, but there are actually many more functions that we can do such as peak shaving, grid forming or grid reinforcement," explained Juan Carlos Reyes, Energy Efficiency Manager at Unitrade , during a featured interview at Future Energy Summit (FES) Caribbean .
The viability of these strategies is also supported by the Dominican Republic's tariff structure. Recent resolutions from the Superintendency of Electricity (SIE) maintain charges associated with peak power demand for various commercial and industrial segments, including differentiated schemes based on consumption times. In this context, technologies capable of reducing peak demand are becoming increasingly attractive to users seeking to optimize their energy costs.
For Reyes, the current scenario also reflects a convergence of need and technology. " I believe that storage has arrived as the new innovation ," he stated. "It's something we've been seeing for a long time, but I think this is the moment where technology is on par with need, price is on par with need, and, definitely, the level of security and rigor that storage systems require is also on par with the standard that the market demands."
The economic appeal of these solutions coincides with sustained growth in national electricity demand. The Coordinating Body projects that peak demand on the National Interconnected Electric System (SENI) will reach 3,599 MW in 2026 , compared to the 3,440 MW projected for 2025. Furthermore, in August 2025, the country recorded a record peak instantaneous demand of 3,923 MW , reflecting the increasing pressure on the electrical infrastructure.
Added to this are the most recent operational records, which show generation levels close to 3700 MW , a sign of the need to incorporate resources capable of providing flexibility to both users and the system.
From energy savings to grid flexibility
As part of this strategy, Unitrade officially distributes the BESS system from Huawei Digital Power, a solution geared towards the commercial and industrial segment that concentrates a good part of the company's growth expectations.
"It's an all-in-one offered by Huawei, very complete in terms of cooling, efficiency, size and technology, allowing for multiple functions," Reyes highlighted.
Therefore, the impact of these technologies goes beyond cost reduction for each user. As they expand behind the meter, they also provide responsiveness to the system during periods of peak operational demand, contributing to the stability of an energy mix that increasingly incorporates renewable generation.
This challenge takes on a strategic dimension in the Dominican Republic, since also during FES Caribe, government authorities confirmed that the country projects requirements of at least 2000 MW of BESS towards 2036-2037 to support the integration of new renewable sources and guarantee the flexibility necessary for the operation of the system.
Official data from the National Energy Commission (CNE) shows that this transformation is already underway. Currently, there are 5,178 MW of renewable energy capacity under concession , while battery-related projects represent 2,814 MWh . In addition, the country has 14 photovoltaic projects with batteries , equivalent to 1,459 MWh , and an operational solar capacity exceeding 1,700 MW .
The magnitude of these figures reflects why storage has ceased to be seen as a complementary technology and has become one of the pillars of the next stage of the Dominican energy transition.
Unitrade observes that the main barrier to accelerating adoption remains a lack of awareness about the true capabilities of these solutions. However, they assert that perceptions change rapidly once users experience the results.
"When we were struggling to place the first battery, it was difficult, but after doing so, the sale of the next ten came very quickly," Reyes commented.
According to the executive, market acceleration occurs when companies directly verify the economic impact that storage can have on their operations.
" The customer truly sees that it's not an idea of the past or the future, but that they can really feel it in their energy savings ," he noted, considering that the next stage of the market will depend on more users understanding the economic potential that BESS offers beyond traditional backup power.
"That's what should happen: they should embrace new technology," Reyes concluded.