Caribbean, Central America power watch

Dominican Republic state power transmission company Eted launched a public tender to build the 138/69kV Vega substation and associated interconnection line branches.

The operator has budgeted 790mn pesos (US$14.5mn) for the 20-23 month project.

Offers are due by December 16 and a decision is expected next quarter, according to procurement information.

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The World Bank announced it partnered with the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Canada Clean Energy and Forests Climate Facility and the Climate Investment Fund to explore geothermal viability in Saint Lucia.

"The Renewable Energy Sector Development Project (RESDP) – launched today in Soufriere – applies concessional, multi-partner financing in support of St Lucia’s goal of 7 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030," the World Bank said in a statement.

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The US Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) reported that the Public Services Commission approved solar companies Haugland VI and Leeward Energy as qualified facilities (QF).

“The recent QF designation is part of a multi-step process that will allow the energy companies to negotiate and enter into a power-purchase agreement with the authority,” said WAPA, which highlighted the goal that solar account for 100% of supply to St Croix.

“Prioritization of solar and battery storage will be critical to lowering reliance on expensive and volatile fossil-fuel generation and will help insulate customers from spikes in commodity prices,” WAPA added.

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Guatemala’s wholesale power market administrator AMM will hold online meetings November 8-10 to present results of a study carried out by Synex, Ingenieros Consultores and Estudios Energéticos Consultores on the need to update the wholesale power market's regulatory framework. Information is available here atencion@amm.org.gt