The integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS) is changing one of the long-standing principles of the photovoltaic industry. While for years competition among suppliers and developers focused on reducing capital expenditure ( CAPEX ), the new landscape necessitates a broader perspective and an evaluation of how design, engineering, and operational decisions will impact the asset's profitability throughout its entire lifespan.
This paradigm shift was one of the main messages delivered by Ángel Alegría , Commercial Director of Schletter for Iberia and Latin America , during his participation in the Future Energy Summit (FES) Mexico : "We must stop focusing solely on CAPEX, because profitability is no longer in the initial purchase; profitability lies in the operation of that asset, which is now much more expensive during the project's lifespan."
In that context, the executive stated that investors will begin to prioritize indicators capable of reflecting the project's economic performance over decades.
"Developers will increasingly focus on the levelized cost of energy over the 25 or 30 years that the plant will last, to really use this metric that correctly balances CAPEX and OPEX and gives us a clear view of the profitability we will have in the project," said the representative of the German manufacturer of fixed structures and trackers.
Market trends are beginning to support this shift in focus. As BESS systems move from being an add-on to a core component of new renewable energy tenders, the discussion is shifting from solely focusing on construction costs to encompassing the operational performance of the assets throughout their entire lifespan.
Mexico is one of the markets where this transition is beginning to materialize. The Ministry of Energy (SENER) is working on new calls for proposals for renewable energy projects associated with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), where energy storage will play a leading role, as the projects have a minimum requirement of 30% battery capacity with a minimum of 3 hours of backup power, in addition to specific processes for storage systems—a sign that confirms the paradigm shift in the development of new capacity.
The trend is also gaining ground in the rest of Latin America. In Guatemala, the PEG-5 tender awarded 1,505 MW distributed across 57 projects , of which 1,102 MW correspond to renewable energy , including 713 MW of solar with batteries , one of the largest hybrid additions in Central America.
In Colombia, the next clean energy procurement auction will include specific products for solar projects and battery storage, while the Dominican Republic is preparing a call for bids aimed exclusively at incorporating 200 MW of BESS systems into existing solar plants.
Meanwhile, Argentina launched the AlmaSADI tender to incorporate 700 MW of storage at critical grid nodes; Brazil is moving towards its first specific auction for batteries; and Chile is consolidating one of the continent's most dynamic markets with more than 2 GW of operational storage and a portfolio of over 14 GW under environmental assessment.
The engineering also changes with the incorporation of BESS
The evolution of the business model not only modifies financial evaluation, but also transforms how photovoltaic plants are designed. According to Alegría, the advent of energy storage necessitates considering variables that, just a few years ago, carried far less weight in project engineering.
The first challenge involves risk mitigation . The expansion of solar energy into areas with more demanding conditions means that structures must respond to increasingly complex scenarios.
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"The topographies we face are no longer ideal. We have much more complicated topographies that require adaptation to the terrain. We also have the seismic risk and terrains with much higher salinity," he explained.
In addition, climatic phenomena influence the structural design from the earliest stages of the project.
"We have areas in Mexico with high wind loads, so structures must be able to withstand this throughout the lifespan of the projects," he added.
The second key aspect arises with the integration of energy storage itself. The addition of batteries entails new civil works, greater construction requirements, and tighter timelines, which necessitates simplifying the installation processes.
"The developers are demanding that we collaborate to improve that installation and reduce the complexities that this is bringing," he noted.
From the price of steel to the availability of the asset
According to Alegría, this transformation also changes the role that structures play within a photovoltaic plant. While previously the goal was to reduce the cost of supply, now aspects related to operational availability and the reduction of unscheduled maintenance are of greater importance.
"We can no longer focus solely on CAPEX. We also have to consider the plant's operational procedures, because errors, unscheduled maintenance, and machine downtime can quickly and significantly impact asset availability and, therefore, its profitability," he warned.
Given this situation, Schletter is working to optimize both the design and the materials used in its structures. The strategy aims to increase corrosion resistance, improve the structural efficiency of the profiles, and reduce weight without compromising the system's robustness.
"It's not the same to use a profile at 50% utilization as it is at 80%. This allows us to reduce the weight of our structures without compromising their robustness," he explained.
In parallel, the company is developing solutions aimed at reducing assembly times, one of the factors that is gaining relevance as the complexity and scale of hybrid projects increase.
"We are working on a structure that can be assembled practically without tools, greatly reducing installation times," Alegría said.
Beyond technological advancements, the executive maintains that the main change will be conceptual. As storage becomes a standard component of solar projects, a plant's success will depend less on the acquisition cost of each component and increasingly on its ability to maintain high levels of availability and profitability for decades.