New Guayubín substation set to boost renewable integration and grid reliability

Montecristi, DR.- Officials from the Dominican Transmission Company (ETED) conducted a high-profile inspection of the new Guayubín 345/138 kV substation on Friday, touting its role in bolstering the Northwest grid. Led by ETED Board Chairman Rafael Santana Guilamo and General Manager Martín Robles Morillo, the delegation reviewed progress on a project budgeted at RD$2.68 billion (approximately US$47 million), which aims to improve transmission capacity and integrate renewable generation in a region long plagued by power instability.

The substation, designed with an air-insulated digital control system, dual-bus configuration and provision for future transformer fields, will link to the Santiago-to-Guayubín 80 km, double-circuit line and three additional 138 kV circuits feeding nearby wind and solar parks. ETED officials emphasized that the facility will accommodate up to 432 MW from Manzanillo Power Land, nearly 58 MW from Monte Cristi Solar II and 50 MW from Los Granadillos wind farm, positioning Guayubín as a strategic hub for clean energy.

Despite the fanfare, local engineers and community leaders warn that similar ETED projects in remote provinces have suffered delays, cost overruns and questions over contractor performance. “We welcome the new infrastructure, but we need guarantees on maintenance and transparency,” said a senior Montecristi electrical engineer who asked not to be named. Critics also note that the tight construction schedule leaves little margin for unforeseen setbacks before the substation’s planned commissioning in mid-2026.

As the Dominican Republic grapples with one of the Caribbean’s weakest electricity networks, historically marked by frequent outages and underinvestment, Guayubín’s completion will be closely watched. Should it deliver on its promise of reliable service and renewable integration, it could serve as a model for other underserved regions. If not, it risks becoming another costly lesson in the country’s ongoing struggle to modernize its power sector.