Colombia energy storage tender draws 10 bidders

French multinational Engie, Canadian Solar and Germany's ABO Wind are among 10 companies to submit bids for Colombia's first grid-scale battery storage project, according to documents published by energy sector planning unit UPME.

Other participants in the tender are SAEB Atlantic, Air-E, Grupo Energía Bogotá, Interconexión Eléctrica, Celsia, Proeléctrica and a joint venture between Terpel and California-based smart energy developer Stem. 

UPME did not say when the winner would be announced, but deputy energy minister Miguel Lotero said last week that the bidding process was due to conclude this month. 

Tender documents call for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a battery storage system and related transmission infrastructure in Barranquilla, on Colombia's Caribbean coast.

UPME said the system must have capacity to deliver up to 45MWh over a minimum period of one hour. Planned works also include a 110/34.5kV substation, dubbed El Silencio, plus associated transmission and distribution lines. 

The deadline for the completion of construction work is June 30, 2023. Further details, in Spanish, can be seen here. 

In March, UPME awarded a supervisory contract for the project to Bogotá-based engineering firm Ingetec.

Officials have said the initiative could pave the way for a slew of additional battery storage projects that would reinforce electricity supply in areas vulnerable to outages.