Panamá recibe siete ofertas en licitación de energías renovables por hasta 260 MW.

Panama"s latest renewable energy tender has attracted seven bids from six generation companies, offering projects that together could reach up to 260.57 MW of installed capacity, according to an analysis of official documents and developers" submissions.

The process, LPI No.

ETESA 01-25 was launched by Panama"s state-owned transmission company, Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica S.A. (ETESA).

It aims to procure firm capacity and electricity supply through long-term contracts, a mechanism commonly used in the country to ensure energy security and price stability in the wholesale electricity market.

The tender award is scheduled for 24 April, when authorities will determine which renewable projects will secure contracts under this strategic procurement round.

According to Energía Estratégica"s analysis, the total capacity available in the process varies depending on how it is calculated.

Several projectsparticularly wind power plantsfeature variable generation profiles depending on the month of the year.

If the maximum monthly output of each plant is considered, the combined supply offered by the bidders reaches 260.57 MW of potential capacity.

However, the actual capacity available to the power system is not constant throughout the year, as wind projects depend on seasonal wind resource conditions.

When analysing the combined generation of all projects month by month, the total available capacity would fluctuate between 138.34 MW and 250.04 MW.

February would record the highest level of available capacity, reaching 250.04 MW, driven by peak performance from wind farms.

By contrast, October would see the lowest generation level, at 138.34 MW, due to reduced wind output during that period.

Tender documents detail the capacity each developer has proposed to supply to the national electricity system.

UEP Penonomé III, S.A. submitted a proposal for 69 MW of fixed capacity throughout the year, making it one of the largest offers in the process.

Meanwhile, UKA Parque Eólico La Colorada, S.A. presented a variable wind power offer, with output ranging from 90.39 MW in February to 16.59 MW in October, reflecting the seasonal variability of the wind resource.

The project proposed by Santa Cruz Wind S.A. is also a wind farm with variable capacity, fluctuating between 61.23 MW in February and 12.81 MW in October.

In the case of Los Naranjos Overseas, S.A., the proposal includes 10 MW of constant capacity year-round, contributing stable renewable generation within the portfolio of bids.

Hidronorth Corp. submitted a hydropower project with monthly variable capacity ranging from 1.32 MW in March to 4.05 MW in October, depending on water availability.

Finally, Corporación de Energía del Istmo, Ltd, S.A. submitted two separate proposals for the San Bartolo plant.

The first corresponds to an energy-only offer, with variable capacity ranging from 8.27 MW in April to 20 MW between June and December.

The second is a capacity-only proposal, offering 5.90 MW of fixed capacity starting in 2031.

During the first years of the contract2029 and 2030the offer provides 0 MW.

During the bid submission session, an ETESA official confirmed that "no observations were recorded during the envelope opening process, meaning all proposals remain in contention.

Following the bid opening, ETESA will proceed with the technical and financial evaluation of the offers, a stage that will determine which renewable energy projects will be awarded contracts and integrated into Panama"s national electricity system in the coming years.

*Fixed capacity starting in 2031.