Energy Minister Joel Santos listed power systems that are getting ready to connect with the national grid and what else is coming in an interview with El Caribe and CDN 37.
Santos says nearly 200 new megawatts (MW) is expected to be incorporated to the national grid by the end of October. The new systems are:
• The SIBA project will add 68 MW as it completes its cycle.
• Energas in San Pedro de Macorís will integrate an additional 130 MW.
• A recently installed power barge in Azua has also added capacity.
Mid-term security and storage
Yet, he explained that crucial stability will come in the medium term as new systems go on the grid in the next three years. These are:
• Early 2026: Energía 2000 in Manzanillo will add 411 MW.
• Mid-2027: A new project in Boca Chica will integrate the country’s largest-ever unitary gas plant, with 467 MW.
• 2028: An additional 240 MW project and two ‘twin’ plants (Manzanillo 1 and 2) will add 426 MW each.
In total, the country will add over 2,000 MW of base energy in the short to medium term. This capacity is essential not only to meet demand but also to create a cold reserve—allowing older, less efficient plants to be retired, thus increasing the system’s overall efficiency and stability.
Santos explained that private ventures in the Dominican Republic have been heavily investing in renewables, namely solar energy, but the installed energy is only available during the day, while the peak demand occurs between 7 and 11pm. Santos says the country has seen a 134% increase in installed clean energy capacity, from 555 MW in 2020 to over 1,300 MW in 2024.
To bridge this gap, the government is now requiring new renewable projects to include storage systems. The goal is to integrate between 400 and 500 MW of energy with storage by 2027, structurally transforming how the country covers peak demand.
Santos emphasized a commitment to continuity of state, asserting that his administration must launch the necessary tenders for plants beyond 2028 to prevent a future energy crisis.“ The installation of power plants are processes that take time,” he noted, contrasting it with addressing a poultry shortage. Gas-powered plants, for example, can take three to five years to build.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
21 October 2025