Energy storage is emerging as the next wave of growth for the Dominican Republic's renewable energy market . Unitrade already reports more than 10 commercial BESS projects installed and under development in the country and observes an acceleration in demand across various scales of the business.
“ The storage market is growing exponentially and will continue to do so ,” said Juan Carlos Reyes Díaz, Energy Efficiency Manager at Unitrade , during the Nos Vemos en FES series, hosted by Gastón Fenés.
Watch the webinar again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g_PqH8o9DY
The shift began during 2025. After a period marked mainly by grid injection and generation projects, from the middle of that year to the beginning of 2026, the market moved towards configurations that combine renewable generation and storage , both in new installations and in existing photovoltaic systems.
In the residential segment, there is already less demand for systems limited to grid injection. This trend is also reaching the commercial and industrial markets, where applications related to peak shaving, dynamic pricing, backup power, and flexible battery management are emerging. At the utility level, PPAs incorporating energy storage are also beginning to be offered.
“ For me, renewable energy had its first exponential growth in the installation of solar panels as their costs came down; now, the exponential growth belongs to storage ,” the executive said.
BESS expands its industrial business and reduces returns
Energy savings continue to be among the main drivers of commercial and industrial investments , but batteries allow work on variables that exceed the direct reduction of grid consumption.
The systems can be used for grid reinforcement, backup power, power quality stabilization, arbitrage, and peak power reduction. In addition to these applications, there is what Reyes Díaz defined as "dynamic self-consumption," through coordination between generation, demand, and storage.
“ The issue of storage has opened up a range of possibilities: from network reinforcement solutions, backup, complete stabilization of the energy quality of that commercial and industrial client, to continuing to increase savings through energy arbitrage, peak shaving or 'dynamic self-consumption', as I like to call it ,” the executive explained.
Unitrade focuses part of its activity in free trade zones and industrial production facilities, supermarkets, department stores and hotels , where configurations depend on both the consumption profile and the supply continuity requirements.
Backup power is especially important in the Dominican Republic. Some consumers with photovoltaic generation systems are looking to use the battery as their primary backup and the diesel generator as a secondary backup , while also leveraging the same asset to optimize their operating costs.
“ My answer may sound very commercial, but I truly believe that every customer needs storage, especially in the Dominican Republic ,” he stated.
To illustrate the scale of the opportunity, the executive presented the example of a factory or supermarket in Santo Domingo with an approximate demand of 1 MW . The first step would be to analyze and potentially modify the tariff system before sizing the renewable energy infrastructure.
Based on that profile, the proposed alternative includes between 300 and 400 kW of photovoltaic panels , depending on the available surface area, along with a storage system of approximately 500 kWh to 1 MWh .
“ With this, we would easily see savings of 40% or more on your electricity bill ,” the expert explained, subject to the initial tariff system and the consumption profile of each establishment.
The battery allows you to take advantage of solar energy generation during the day, reduce peak power demands, and manage stored energy to sustain a more stable peak consumption. This combination extends savings throughout the day and improves the economic comparison compared to a purely photovoltaic installation.
“ Right now in the Dominican Republic, it is more convenient to install a solar system with storage than just a solar system ,” the interviewee stated.
The evolution also extends to investment payback periods . With incentives such as exemption from the ITBIS (Value Added Tax) and a 40% refund of equipment costs through tax credits , solar projects registered returns of between two and a half and three years, while adding storage could extend them to five or six years.
That gap has narrowed in certain business profiles. “ Today, in cases like supermarkets, we are seeing returns on investment with storage periods of close to or below 3 years ,” the executive pointed out.
Although the initial investment for a hybrid configuration is higher, the executive noted a lifespan of approximately 25 years for the panels and 10 years for the storage . The reduced payback periods thus allow BESS to be evaluated as an asset for economic optimization in addition to its backup function.
Batteries make room for more solar power
The expansion of storage can also enable new photovoltaic capacity in facilities that had previously reached limits to further growth. Reyes Díaz linked this opportunity to a recent regulatory change applicable to zero-injection schemes.
As he explained, this system allows users to install as many panels as they need. This opens up an alternative for industries located in areas with limited grid capacity: increasing photovoltaic power, storing daytime surpluses, and using them later.
“ Without a doubt, storage is here to boost and will continue to boost photovoltaic technology ,” said the Unitrade representative.
The change is already leading to expansions of existing facilities. “ Now we have clients who are installing a second or third phase of their project to incorporate storage and take advantage of that energy, because ultimately the sun shines every day and the space on the roof is available ,” he explained.
The Dominican Republic's island status adds another variable to the equation. International oil price fluctuations impact costs for consumers who rely on generators , so storage is also beginning to compete with diesel as a backup and supply alternative.
“ For customers who previously had self-consumption using a diesel generator, a battery is now twice as cheap as burning fuel ,” he noted.
Is it worth waiting for cheaper batteries?
The evolution of battery prices presents an additional decision for developers and large consumers. While further price reductions are expected, Unitrade is currently observing greater price stability and renewed pressure on international costs .
Reyes Díaz recalled that previously the value of certain equipment could drop even during transit within a container. Now, however, he identifies high freight costs to Latin America and changes in industrial incentives in China , where a large part of the sector's manufacturing is concentrated.
The executive anticipated that the removal of certain incentives could generate an increase of nearly 8% in equipment costs for that reason alone . At the same time, the widespread adoption of BESS is leading manufacturers of panels, inverters, and batteries to expand their own storage portfolios.
“ The time to invest is now; don’t think about it anymore ,” he stated.
In this scenario, differentiation between suppliers is not limited to hardware price. Availability, technical support, warranties, and responsiveness become relevant for installers, EPC contractors, and developers who need to reduce risks during implementation and operation.
Reyes Díaz's career path: from technical profile to renewable energy business
At 29, Juan Carlos Reyes Díaz built his professional career in the energy sector, starting with a technical background. He graduated as a technician in digital electronics and microcomputing and later studied Business Administration and International Business, remaining connected to the energy industry through Unitrade.
His experience in renewables also spanned different links in the chain. Around 2017, Unitrade operated as an installer and project developer , a stage that allowed the representative to work directly on the needs faced by EPC contractors during the execution of installations.
That journey took another turn in 2020 when Unitrade became an official Huawei distributor in the Dominican Republic . Since then, the manager has gone from understanding installer requirements to focusing on equipment availability, technical support, and pre- and post-sales services for a portfolio of nearly 200 clients.
“ In the end, what I valued most when I was at the facility, and what I understand my clients value most, is operational peace of mind ,” he said.
This experience also explains the executive's growing involvement in industry events. He explained that previously he primarily remained behind the scenes , delegating event attendance to the sales and marketing teams, but Unitrade's process of becoming a Huawei Value Added Partner (VAP) spurred more active participation in industry panels and discussions .
This new role led him, among other events, to participate in the Future Energy Summit , where he currently positions energy storage as one of the main growth drivers for the Dominican energy market.
Unitrade was founded in 1992 and its core business has been data center infrastructure and power quality. Its foray into renewables began around eight years ago, initially as an installer and project developer, experience which it later transferred to distribution.
The company has around 80 employees , with approximately 10 professionals specifically dedicated to the renewable energy team across sales and after-sales services. The sales staff even holds Huawei pre- and post-sales certifications to support clients through the entire system implementation process.
Unitrade serves a portfolio of nearly 200 clients and markets Huawei's product range, from residential inverters of 3 kW to 10 kW , commercial solutions of 20 kW to 150 kW , and 330 kW and 500 kW equipment used in commercial and utility-scale applications. Large-scale projects are managed on a made-to-order basis, rather than typically maintaining those volumes in stock.
Immediate availability is one of the cornerstones of this operation. The executive recounted cases of clients requesting up to 3 MW of inverters with the panels already installed, the wiring completed, and just three days' notice to pick up the equipment.
“ Basically, my warehouse becomes their warehouse; it’s a dynamic that must always be maintained ,” the executive summarized.
The company also maintains a policy of not installing or selling photovoltaic projects directly to the end user. When a client in its portfolio requires a solar plant, Unitrade connects them with a trusted installer who meets the company's required execution standards.
The strategy is complemented by a support policy associated with Huawei. The interviewee also noted that they offer replacement or response within 24 hours , a timeframe that can be extended to 48 hours in remote areas of the country, by exchanging one device for another when necessary.
FES returns to the Dominican Republic and continues its Latin American tour
The statements were made during "See You at FES ," a series linked to the Future Energy Summit that brings together industry leaders to analyze investments, technologies, and new opportunities in the energy market.
Following the meetings held during the first part of the year, the FES 2026 tour will continue with five meetings between September and November , with storage, solar, wind, green hydrogen, distributed generation, financing and utility scale projects among the topics addressed.
The next stop will be FES Peru, on September 28 in Lima , followed by FES Colombia, on October 1 in Bogota .
Next up is the Dominican Republic. FES Government & Investment will be held on October 7 and 8 in Santo Domingo , as part of a regional initiative that will bring together the public and private energy ecosystem.
As detailed during the webinar, the meeting will be held in conjunction with the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLADE) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Dominican Republic , within Energy Week , with the participation of Latin American energy authorities and companies in the sector.
The agenda will continue with FES Chile on October 28 and 29 in Santiago , while São Paulo will host FES Brazil on November 5 , completing the next five stops of the tour during 2026.
Reyes Díaz projected that in a future edition of the meeting he hopes to return with evidence that the exponential growth projected for BESS has indeed materialized , based on the commercial projects that are currently installed and under development.
“Thank you so much to everyone who listened to me,” he said, anticipating the message he would like to convey at an upcoming FES.
Unitrade is part of a portfolio of more than 10 commercial BESS projects installed and under development in the Dominican Republic , which the company seeks to turn into success stories to showcase the evolution of this new market cycle.
“ The time is now. Storage for everyone, really ,” Reyes Diaz concluded.