The Dominican Republic, the Caribbean’s largest economy, has maintained steady growth over the past five years, accompanied by increasing energy needs. Given its island geography, renewable energy—particularly solar photovoltaic and wind power—has become a reliable, competitive, and rapidly deployable option compared with fossil alternatives that require more complex arrangements for authorization, operation, and maintenance.
However, integrating these variable sources creates new challenges for ensuring the stability and continuity of the National Interconnected Electricity System (SENI). In response, the country has advanced the deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to ensure that the energy transition delivers tangible progress and effectiveness. These systems can provide essential services such as primary and secondary frequency regulation. Together with grid-forming technologies and a clear regulatory framework for different market participants, BESS can strengthen operational continuity and electricity supply quality. The Dominican experience therefore provides a reference with potential application in other markets across Latin America and the Caribbean.
