The CNEE resolved that it has no objection to the award made by the Board of Tender for PEG 5, derived from the Generation System Expansion Plan (PEG)after the reverse auction held on March 25, according to the resolution issued by that institution.
When consulted, Luis Ortiz, president of the CNEE, explained that the distributors must now proceed to award and sign the contracts in accordance with the schedule contained in the rules of the Open Tender PEG-5-2025.
According to this schedule, the award period ended on April 16, 2026, after learning of the decision notified by the CNEE. Furthermore, the maximum period for signing each supply contract is up to three months after the award.
It is about the largest tender in the country’s history for energy supply.
Of the 1,400 megawatts (MW) of guaranteed power (as an efficient firm offer) tendered, 1,258 MW was contracted (90% of what was required). This was due to the fact that several bidders withdrew as the rounds of the reverse auction progressed, due to strong competition and possibly no longer able to afford the prices offered, Ortiz said. Up to 150 MW of installed power was also sought.
The sum of the awards exceeds 1,538 MW, according to the award table sent by the distributors and disclosed by the CNEE. When consulted, Ortiz indicated that this is because several contracts are less than 15 years, so they were complemented with others to cover the expected term.
Stake
PEG 5 was a process with high participation of 48 companies that participated in the auction with 93 projects in the economic offer phase.
The president of the CNEE said that the tender was successful not only because of the high participation, but also because of the supply and diversity of resources, and that now the country must continue promoting this type of process more continuously to continue incorporating electricity generation to cover demand.
According to data from the table of bidders and awards included in the PEG 5 Award Report, issued by the distributors and included in resolution CNEE-97-2026 of the National Electrical Energy Commission, 57 projects were awarded presented by 33 companies—some in consortia or alliances—some of which presented more than one project. Initially, 50 companies presented a technical offer, of which 48 went to the economic offer round through reverse auction with 93 projects.
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Price
The monomic price of the tender was US$101 per megawatt; This is an average of the event that includes power and energy prices based on generation.
According to Ortiz, this price is more than 10% below the current purchase prices.
49% are new plants
49% of the awarded projects correspond to new generation plants, added the president of CNEE. With this, the official argues, it is guaranteed to have the latest technological trends, which will benefit the modernization of the electrical system.
The report details that, of those awarded, 29 are new plants; In addition, 20 are existing plants that are presented with additional investment for expansion with renewable resources, and eight are existing plants that did not make changes.
Another point that the official considered important is that more than 70% of the award was for renewable technologies, and more than 20% corresponds to non-renewable technologies combined with plants or renewable expansion, an aspect that – he added – supports the search for the energy transition.
By resource and company
Along with the resolution, the CNEE disclosed the projects and companies awarded, according to the information provided by the distributors.
By generation resource highlights the solar proposal with battery energy storage system (BES – Battery Energy Storage System), since 26 projects of this type were awarded.
One of the new features in the Guatemalan electrical system is the battery storage option.
Apart from the solar projects mentioned with this modality, two hydroelectric plants were also awarded with this system.
In addition, there are nine projects that combine hydraulic and solar resources, four only hydraulic and another four only solar.
There are also four projects with a combination of coal, biomass and solar; other combinations of coal and renewables, and biomass with fossil fuels.
Likewise, there is a plant that will generate with natural gas produced in the country.
By company, the one that obtained the largest volume of awards is Consorcio Magdalena – Biomass Energy, with 350 megawatts of solar combination with storage, in addition to 145 MW combining coal, biomass and solar.
Consorcio Grupo Jaguar Energy was also awarded in three projects, with 160.8 MW, and Inde with 100 MW in several existing hydroelectric plants.