El Salvador to look at renewable energy’s grid impact

El Salvador’s power market administrator Unidad de Transacciones published reference terms to conduct a study on the impact of renewable energy on the electricity system.

The consultancy work will target the impact on spinning reserve availability in 2023-27 from solar and wind plants which may enter service in 2022-24.

The winner of the 180-day contract will also propose technical and regulatory changes to address identified system shortfalls.

An information meeting is scheduled next month and offers are due in February, according to procurement information.

In July, the country’s first wind farm – the 54MW Ventus complex – was commissioned. 

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MPC Energy Solutions recently announced it had selected Isotron as EPC contractor for construction of the Santa Rosa and Villa Sol solar plants in El Salvador that will have combined capacity of 21.07MWp.

Also, this year, Neoen secured financing to install energy storage batteries at the Capella (140MWp) and Providencia (101MWp) solar parks.

A renewable readiness assessment from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlights that El Salvador “has created a strong policy and regulatory framework to promote renewable energy penetration in the power sector."

"Nevertheless, additional measures can include: adapting dispatch and pricing procedures to ensure that controllable generators deliver all the operational flexibility they can… promoting a market for auxiliary services.”

Read IRENA Offers El Salvador a Strategic Action Plan To Drive Energy Transformation

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