Joel Santos visited and the director of IRENA visited Girasol Solar Park.

The Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos , along with the Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency ( Irena ), Francesco La Camera, visited the Girasol Solar Park, one of the largest and most advanced renewable energy projects in the Dominican Republic.

The inspection was conducted in Yaguate, San Cristóbal, to highlight the park's technological advances and environmental and economic impact.

The Girasol Solar Park, with an installed capacity of 120 MW and comprised of more than 268,200 solar panels, plays a crucial role in the country's energy mix. Its operation helps prevent the emission of approximately 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, significantly contributing to the fight against climate change.

• The park reduces the import of approximately 400,000 barrels of oil each year, strengthening the country's energy independence.

During the visit, authorities highlighted that this project, which represents an investment of $100 million , generates nearly 240,000 MWh annually, enough to supply more than 100,000 Dominican homes.

The upcoming expansion of the park was also announced with the development of the Girasol 2 Solar Park, already in the permitting phase, with the commitment to continue diversifying and strengthening the energy matrix based on renewable energies.

Minister Santos emphasized that the government continues firmly on its path toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy matrix, and thanked EGE Haina for its investment and commitment to reducing the country's carbon footprint.

For its part, La Camera expressed IRENA 's interest in supporting and promoting these projects in the region, consolidating the Dominican Republic as a benchmark for renewable energy in the Caribbean.

During his visit to the country, the IRENA director also met with Deputy Foreign Minister Rubén Silié Valdez.

"We are exploring practical measures to expand the reach of renewable energy, strengthen energy resilience, and turn challenges like sargassum into opportunities," La Camera wrote on its X account.

The Chamber of Commerce, along with the Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Dominican Republic, led the first high-level dialogue as part of the efforts of both institutions to advance toward a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable energy transition.

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