Dominican Rep solar projects for nearly US$400mn in line for concessions

Dominican Republic power regulator SIE has recommended that national energy commission CNE grant 25-year definitive concessions for two solar projects totaling US$390mn.

One is Dicayagua Solar Park’s US$263mn, 145MWn (180MWp) Dicayagua Solar I project in Santiago province.

The other project is Ardavin Solar’s US$127mn, 83.4MWn (101.6MWp) Ardavin Solar park in Espaillat province.

Both projects would boast battery energy storage.

In its recommendations, the watchdog said it “has been able to verify in the present case that the petitioner has complied with the technical, legal, financial and environmental requirements.”

Among the no-objections is that of state power transmission company Eted which determined that the parks would not negatively impact the grid.

CNE received the definitive concession request from Dicayagua in January and in November for Ardavin, while the provisional concession for Dicayagua was granted in February 2023 and in June 2022 for Ardavin.

Magnetar Global Partners holds 100% of Ardavin and a stake in Dicayagua, which have signed pledge agreements with Astronergy for the solar panels and Banco Popular Dominicano for financing.

The solar plants would benefit from the country’s renewable energy incentives law.