Regulatory roundup: Andean power grid, battery storage, solar incentives and more

Ecuador power grid participation

Studies are due to begin shortly to further define Ecuador’s participation in Andean power interconnection initiative SINEA.

In a direct procurement process, the country’s national power operator Cenace selected Fortia Consulting for a 150-day contract to draft the strategy and implementation plan for Cenace’s role in the Andean regional short-term electricity market (MAERCP).

Cenace said the market presents a “significant challenge” that “requires a meticulous preparation with an integral focus to ensure that all technological aspects, of processes, of organization, and staff competencies are aligned with the standards and regulatory requirements of the MAERCP.”

Brazil opens public consultation on battery storage tender

Brazil’s mines and energy ministry (MME) published a public consultation to discuss the country’s first exclusive battery storage tender. 

Recommended for 2025, the backup capacity auction is for energy storage systems that provide instant response and operational flexibility, with maximum power availability of four hours a day and power delivery of 30MW.

“The auction will represent an important milestone for the sector, paving the way for batteries to take on a central role in the energy matrix and will provide the necessary stimulus for the growth of the storage production chain, from domestic or foreign manufacturers, through to various inputs and engineering services,” Markus Vlasits, president of energy storage solutions association ABSAE, told BNamericas. 

Colombia activates standby thermal capacity as drought bites 

Colombian power and gas sector watchdog Creg has ordered the activation of all standby thermoelectric plants to avert the threat of electricity shortages. 

In a memorandum, Creg said the status of the nation’s energy monitoring system had changed to "risk" from "under observation" because of low rainfall that has parched its hydroelectric reservoirs. 

"The early activation of this protocol will allow for the necessary water storage to ensure a safe and reliable electricity supply for users," Creg executive director Antonio Jiménez said. 

Central America: Distributed generation, solar incentives

Costa Rica’s public services regulator Aresep approved modifications to the methodology used to calculate rates that distributed generators pay to use the national power network.

The principal change is related to the variable charge for accessing the grid, the watchdog said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the economy and finance committee of Panama’s national assembly approved in a first debate a bill to introduce a new fiscal incentive to promote the donation of solar panels used for rural aqueducts.

The initiative would modify the energy generation incentives law (solar, wind and hydro) by providing an income tax break.

Dominican Republic fine-tuning distributed generation framework

The Dominican Republic’s power regulator SIE published for consultation a draft regulation for the approval, interconnection and operation of distributed generation (DG).

The publication follows adjustments to a draft released in 2022 after engagement with stakeholders, including the national energy commission (CNE), power distributors, renewable energies promotion association Asofer and Dominican power industry association ADIE.

Brazil gives nod to 19 small hydro projects 

Brazil’s electric power watchdog Aneel enabled 19 small hydroelectric projects with total installed capacity of approximately 260MW to move forward with their environmental licensing processes.

The agency’s nod registers the suitability of the undertakings with the inventory studies and with the use of the hydraulic potential (DRS-PCH) by simplifying the analysis procedures.

Seven projects are located in Paraná state, totaling 94MW: Turmalina, Safira, Arapoti, Nova Fátima, Bandeirantes, Tomazina and Capela.

At a glance: What’s worrying Chilean nonregulated electricity clients 

Increases in the cost of supply is the prime concern of nonregulated electricity clients in Chile.

That is among the takeaways of research conducted for nonregulated user association Acenor by consultancy In-Data. Acenor members include miners and other industrial sector players. Sixty-two clients, whose power usage accounts for 51% of nonregulated consumption, participated in the survey.

Chile has around 2,000 nonregulated clients, with around two-thirds of consumption corresponding to the mining sector.