Guatemala pushes ahead with power grid expansion despite failed transmission tender

Despite the PET-3-2025 transmission tender being declared void, Guatemala continues to expand its electricity transmission infrastructure.

According to the National Electric Energy Commission (CNEE), the country"s electricity regulator, more than 110 power transmission projects are currently under development, executed at the initiative of transmission companies themselves, as allowed under Guatemala"s regulatory framework.

Between 2022 and today, more than 450 kilometres of new transmission lines and around 1,600 MVA of transformation capacity have been added, representing increases of 10% and 20%, respectively.

This growth is supported by a scheme that allows system stakeholders to develop infrastructure without depending on competitive tender processes.

PET-3 was the first open transmission tender in a decade and, although it failed to award any projects, it left clear lessons for the future.

The process was affected by extra-regulatory factors, including delays in environmental permitting, disparities in municipal requirements and conflicts related to right-of-way payments.

These conditions increased the perception of risk among investors, the CNEE warned.

In response, the regulator is analysing modifications aimed at optimising risk allocation, redesigning guarantee schemes and facilitating project development in regions where new infrastructure is required.

These proposals will be submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), which is responsible for approving the tender documents.

The next milestone is expected in January 2026, when the MEM is set to publish the new Transmission System Expansion Plan.

From that point, the CNEE will have two months to define the mandatory projects to be tendered.

Over the following four months, work will advance on the preparation, approval and launch of a new procurement process, which could materialise as PET-4.

That plan will include new demand projections, grid topology analyses, and reliability and resilience criteria, with a planning horizon to 2035.

In parallel, the grid continues to expand through active projects: more than 20 new substations distributed evenly between central and inland areas of the country, alongside 50 expansions of existing facilities and 40 new or upgraded transmission line projects, which will add a further 600 kilometres.

At this stage, the incorporation of energy storage as a strategic tool also stands out.

Although grid expansion has not slowed, the PEG-5 plan included battery energy storage systems (BESS) for the first time within its technical design.

This measure responds to international standards that prioritise operational flexibility and fast system response.

"Storage is always fundamental for the proper management of an electricity system, while maintaining efficiency criteria," CNEE officials explained.

Its use is not limited by any legal barriers, enabling consumers, generators or transmission companies to incorporate storage to optimise operations, manage demand or resolve network constraints.

The regulator believes that this technology could become a relevant complement as variable renewable generation increases, helping to mitigate curtailment, improve system stability and avoid unnecessary investments.

On the generation side, Guatemala added 400 MW of solar PV capacity in 2025, and sustained growth in this segment is expected in the coming years.

Distributed generation and new hydropower projects are set to gain prominence, along with a new addition to the energy mix: natural gas-fired thermal plants in the Petén region, which will allow source diversification without affecting decarbonisation efforts.

At the same time, the CNEE is analysing strategic projects that could be included in the new tender block, such as the Buenaventura, Los Pinos, Cobán II and San Mateo Ixtatán substations, as well as the second circuit of the Guatemala NortePanaluya transmission line.

These initiatives will support continued progress towards electricity system growth targets and help ensure energy security by 2030.

"The Guatemalan electricity market is so open and liberalised that there are no limitations on incorporating storage systems across different activities," the Commission stated.

This characteristic allows technological decisions to adapt to system needs without requiring legislative reforms.

With an expanding grid and flexible regulation, Guatemala is positioning itself to take the next step in renewable energy integration and consolidate a resilient, efficient and modern power system.