Spanish renewables developer Ecoener has obtained a definitive concession from the Dominican Republic government to construct a 60 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) project, named Payita 2, in the northern municipality of Nagua. The project will be complemented by a 15 MW/60 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) with a four-hour duration. This new solar park will be situated alongside the existing Payita 1 solar PV plant, which also has a capacity of 60 MWp.
Edward Veras, executive director of the Comisión Nacional de Energía (National Energy Commission), emphasized the importance of incorporating BESS capacity with the solar PV plant to optimize the project and enhance the resilience of the national grid.
While solar PV initiatives in the Dominican Republic have largely been propelled by private investment, there has been a noticeable increase in government support for expanding capacity, as evidenced by the approval of the Payita 2 project. The country faces challenges in upgrading its grid infrastructure and interconnection lines to accommodate more renewable energy.
The Dominican Republic government has not provided a timeline for the start of construction or the operational date for the project.
Ecoener is expanding its footprint in the Caribbean, recently securing a US$64 million green bond to finance a 74 MW solar PV project in Guatemala.
