SANTO DOMINGO. The Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos Echavarría, affirmed this Tuesday that the Dominican Republic is determined to assume the commitment to lead the promotion of solar energy and the country’s transition towards renewable energies in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
In this regard, the official pointed out that the Dominican nation has witnessed significant progress in the adoption of clean energy technologies, with 27 major renewable energy facilities in various stages of construction, which together will contribute 1,567.47 MW that will enter the system, added to the 1,229.65 MW already in operation.
“These efforts are essential to achieving our ambitious goal of covering 25% of national energy demand with renewable sources by 2025,” he said.
Santos Echavarría stressed that: “Thanks to our strategic location and abundant solar resources, the country is well positioned to take advantage of these benefits and move towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.”
The information was offered during the celebration of the Sixth Meeting of the Regional Committee of the International Solar Alliance for the Latin American and Caribbean Region, in which delegates and international experts in renewable energy from member countries participated, including Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Panama, Chile and Paraguay.
At the opening ceremony, Santos Echavarría expressed the honor of the Dominican Republic “in hosting this important event that reaffirms the country’s commitment to the transition towards renewable energies in the Latin American and Caribbean region.”
The meeting, attended by the Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Ajay Mathur, marks an important milestone in the country’s commitment to promoting solar energy and sustainable development.
In this regard, the ISA incumbent stated that the organization he presides is ready to work with the Dominican Government to address the challenges that will allow unleashing the full potential of solar energy in the country.
“We have seen a great interest in many of the countries in this region to develop large-scale solar plants and this speaks to the great potential of solar energy that this region can enjoy,” he said. He also expressed that as a founding member of this alliance, he hopes to be able to attract more people and countries to generate a fertilization of knowledge, through innovation, collaboration and investment.
Meanwhile, Grenada’s Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment and Renewable Energy, Kerryne James, said that through this activity, they now have the opportunity to discuss and shape the development of the implementation of renewable energy in the region, especially solar energy.
He thanked the ISA for the renewable energy installations in the region, which he described as fruitful in promoting economic growth and facilitating projects to increase solar capacity and improve its infrastructure. “Granada has achieved more than 5 megawatts of installed solar capacity and our ambition remains to expand this capacity to 20 megawatts, which demonstrates our commitment to embrace renewable energy to contribute to the development of a more sustainable future,” he said.
Present at the event were the Vice Ministers of Energy Security and Infrastructure, Fausto Pérez; of Hydrocarbons, Walkiria Caamaño; the directors of the National Energy Commission (CNE), Edward Veras; of International Relations of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), Gustavo Mejía Ricart; the person in charge of International Relations, Carolina Sánchez; and also the delegations of Haiti, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Chile, Cuba, Brazil and other nations.
RD’s Commitment to Renewable Energy
“We are on track to become a leader in the adoption of clean energy technologies, with 27 major renewable energy facilities in various stages of construction.”
Of these facilities – added Minister Santos Echavarría – seven renewable energy plants will begin operating before the end of the year, which together will contribute 1,229.65 MW and another 13 will do so throughout 2025, for the injection of 1,567.47 MW, with which it is expected that 25% of the national energy demand will be covered by renewable sources by 2025.
The Minister of Energy and Mines said that “the country’s commitment to renewable energy is reflected in a solid legal framework, which includes incentives for the development of renewable energy sources, a framework that seeks to diversify the Dominican Republic’s energy matrix, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and encourage investment in clean energy.”
“We are already seeing significant results with a notable increase in investments and the rapid expansion of renewable energy projects across the country,” added Minister Santos.
ISA Collaboration
The Dominican Republic is working closely with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to explore new solar energy initiatives, such as the implementation of solar water pumping systems, floating solar projects, and the installation of solar panels on government buildings. All of these projects highlight the country’s commitment not only to promoting solar energy, but also to innovating sustainable energy solutions.
“We are actively collaborating with ISA and other member countries to share knowledge and develop projects that benefit our region. We welcome the efforts already underway in sister countries such as Cuba, Jamaica, Guyana and Suriname, and reaffirm our commitment to working together for a more sustainable future,” he said.
Bright energy future for the Region
Minister Joel Santos concluded the ceremony by highlighting the crucial role of the Dominican Republic as a leader in the transition to renewable energy in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“The Dominican Republic is determined to be a benchmark in the transition to renewable energy in our region, since, through collaboration, innovation and unwavering dedication, we can not only face global energy challenges, but also take advantage of the immense potential that our region has to offer,” he said.
About the Ministry of Energy and Mines
The Ministry of Energy and Mines is responsible for formulating and administering policies for the responsible and sustainable development of the national energy and mining sectors, both metallic and non-metallic.
In addition to maintaining a reliable energy infrastructure, we are concerned with preserving and promoting proper exploitation of the minerals found in the national territory for the benefit of citizens.
As a public administration body, our role is to govern the national energy system, as well as the electric, renewable, nuclear, natural gas and mining energy subsectors.
About the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a member-driven, action-oriented collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies to provide energy access, ensure energy security and drive the energy transition in its member countries.
