According to Ángel Alegría , Head of Commercial at Schletter, Guatemala currently leads the renewable energy investment map in Central America following the awarding of the PEG-5 and the announcements made by both markets during FES Guatemala 2026. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic is on track to regain momentum with new tenders.
"Guatemala is setting the standard in the region with its latest bidding process," Alegría stated in an interview with Energía Estratégica . Regarding the Dominican Republic, he added, "We all know about the Dominican Republic's bidding process; it's a market that's going to start to pick up steam again," identifying both countries as the main drivers of growth for the region.
The executive's reading coincides with the result of PEG-5 , which would award 1258 MW , of which 73% corresponds to renewable technologies , with a marked prominence of solar energy along with BESS storage systems.
According to the National Electric Energy Commission (CNEE), the process involved 73 rounds and 93 bids , resulting in contract prices lower than current levels and sending a positive signal for new investments. The agency has already indicated that development will continue through the upcoming PEG-6 and PET-4 tenders.
In the case of the Caribbean nation, it recently awarded 325.69 MW of new renewable capacity for BESS projects and closed with record final prices between USD 0.1060 and USD 0.1090 per kWh. Furthermore, in the concession agreement, it announced that it will return to the market in the coming weeks to contract another 300 MW of renewable generation, and that it will even open a separate process to incorporate 200 MW of battery storage systems.
Hybrid projects, greater complexity, and a focus on bankability
Market trends are also changing the profile of projects. The incorporation of energy storage is leading photovoltaic plants to shift their focus from solely generation to providing complementary services to the electrical grid.
"We are entering into power generation plants that are not only looking to generate energy, but are also looking to guarantee power through storage, and this makes the projects increasingly complex," Alegría stated.
This change also raised the demands on the structures. As the executive explained, developers are prioritizing solutions that reduce installation times, provide greater reliability, and keep pace with the maturity that photovoltaic technology has reached.
Bankability also appears as one of the determining factors for making investments.
"All these projects need financing and, obviously, we as experienced structural engineers have to contribute to their bankability; so that banks can see what kind of structure you're working with, that you have the necessary quality and experience to carry out these projects," he emphasized.
Regarding technologies, Alegría pointed out that Guatemala maintains a balanced demand between fixed structures and trackers , without a dominant preference for one of the two alternatives.
The "cocktail" of extreme climates
In addition to technological change, Central America presents one of the most demanding climatic environments for photovoltaic development.
"The exposure to such extreme climates that we have throughout Central America definitely plays a role. There are areas that are hit by hurricanes, others where we have winds that may not be so strong but do have quite dangerous gusts, and other areas where there is a lot of corrosion," Alegría explained.
Continue reading
This scenario takes on even greater significance given the confirmation of an intense El Niño event, which is projected to bring rainfall deficits, prolonged droughts, and above-normal temperatures to much of Central America and the Caribbean, especially the Central American Dry Corridor. While this phenomenon typically reduces hurricane activity in the Atlantic by increasing wind shear, the extreme weather conditions continue to pose a challenge to energy infrastructure and necessitate the design of projects with greater resilience.
For Schletter, this combination of environmental variables increases the value of engineering applied to structures.
"That cocktail, although not good for the projects themselves, helps us as a brand to provide more added value," Alegría said.
In that sense, he explained that the company's experience constitutes a competitive advantage for this type of market.
"Our structure has German DNA, it is adapted to this type of climate and grew up in it, so it is really a market where we can show the value we can offer," he stated.
Currently, Schletter participates in utility projects, in addition to serving the commercial and industrial (C&I) and residential segments, also relying on other brands of the STAL group to cover different applications.
Central America, a priority in the growth strategy
Regional market growth also occupies a central place within the company's business strategy.
Alegría explained that the goal remains to consolidate long-term relationships with developers and asset owners, supporting both established clients and new players who are beginning to participate in the sector.
"Our goals are the same as they have always been: to retain our partners," he said.
He also highlighted that the company seeks to deepen its presence in the region.
"We want to build long-term relationships with repeat customers. Then, in our growth strategy, we aim to keep Central America very much on our radar, grow in this area, support customers who are also new to the sector, and be able to provide them with that experience and added value," he stated.
Looking ahead to the next edition of FES Guatemala, the executive stated that the real change will be conceptual: moving from projects focused solely on generating electricity to infrastructure capable of providing stability to the electrical system.
Alegría expressed his expectation that the projects currently under development will become operational successfully and concluded: "We are moving from a pure generation business model to one that provides these complementary services. This will not only increase the volume of business, but will also make photovoltaic solar energy strategic for the region."