Are solar PV projects implementing energy storage capacity in Chile?

Operational solar PV projects in Chile are implementing energy storage capacity, with AES Andes reaching COD of a solar-plus-storage project this week. Image: AES Andes.

Is Chile ready for a standalone energy storage project?

This project alone nears the capacity (13GWh) the Chilean Ministry of Energy sought in a public land bidding auction for standalone energy storage projects in May of 2024. Chile has been one of the countries at the forefront of the renewable energy transition in Latin America, first with solar PV and now with BESS.

Where are Chile's battery energy storage facilities located?

Chile’s first battery energy storage projects were commissioned in 2009, and all but two of its 16 administrative regions have facilities in operation, under construction or in the planning stage. The greatest installed capacity is found in the northern regions of Antofagasta and Tarapacá, the country’s solar powerhouses.

Can solar power power a Bess plant in Chile?

Both technologies will go hand in hand in Chile, as solar PV is seen as the primary generation source to charge BESS plants, explains Juan Pablo Toledo, country manager, Chile at Metlen Energy & Metals.

Why is energy storage important in Chile?

Image: Grenergy Grid constraints have prevented Chile from maximising the potential of its world-class solar resources. Energy storage has, therefore, become a necessity to ensure the financial viability of PV projects, writes Jonathan Tourino Jacobo.

Why is solar PV a problem in Chile?

Image: AES Andes. Solar PV in Chile is facing a twofold issue: on the one hand, the ever-increasing curtailment of generation; on the other, the reduction of income due to low prices of electricity with increasing zero marginal cost.