Developer Atlas Renewable Energy has inaugurated the BESS (battery energy storage system) del Desierto plant in María Elena commune, in the Antofagasta region.
Peru has no existing BESS regulation and is currently evaluating how to move forward with battery storage projects. In fact, in January 2024, Peru’s energy and mining investment regulator, Osinergmin, opened a request for a proposal for a study on energy storage.
As of now, Colombia’s reliability charge (Cargo por Confiabilidad) has encouraged hybrid solar + BESS projects to progress. Large energy companies have expressed that there are no Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) available specifically for stand-alone storage projects, making it harder to finance those projects.
Construction of BESS del Desierto began last year and involved 200 workers from its María Elena commune and Tocopilla province as well as the city of Calama. A quarter of the construction workers at the project, on the grounds of the 244 MWp Sol del Desierto solar plant, were women. The solar site has been operating since 2022.
The global residential solar storage and inverter market is experiencing rapid expansion, with demand increasing by over 300% in the past three years. Home energy storage solutions now account for approximately 35% of all new residential solar installations worldwide. North America leads with 38% market share, driven by homeowner energy independence goals and federal tax credits that reduce total system costs by 26-30%. Europe follows with 32% market share, where standardized home storage designs have cut installation timelines by 55% compared to custom solutions. Asia-Pacific represents the fastest-growing region at 45% CAGR, with manufacturing innovations reducing system prices by 18% annually. Emerging markets are adopting residential storage for backup power and energy cost reduction, with typical payback periods of 4-7 years. Modern home installations now feature integrated systems with 10-30kWh capacity at costs below $700/kWh for complete residential energy solutions.
Technological advancements are dramatically improving home solar storage and inverter performance while reducing costs. Next-generation battery management systems maintain optimal performance with 40% less energy loss, extending battery lifespan to 15+ years. Standardized plug-and-play designs have reduced installation costs from $1,200/kW to $650/kW since 2022. Smart integration features now allow home systems to operate as virtual power plants, increasing homeowner savings by 35% through time-of-use optimization and grid services. Safety innovations including multi-stage protection and thermal management systems have reduced insurance premiums by 25% for solar storage installations. New modular designs enable capacity expansion through simple battery additions at just $600/kWh for incremental storage. These innovations have improved ROI significantly, with residential projects typically achieving payback in 5-8 years depending on local electricity rates and incentive programs. Recent pricing trends show standard home systems (5-10kWh) starting at $8,000 and premium systems (15-20kWh) from $12,000, with financing options available for homeowners.