May 19, 2025 · The initiative aligns with Chile''s energy transition goals by enabling a consistent supply of renewable energy during non-solar hours through a long-term power purchase
Chile has taken a significant step in the development of clean energy with the inauguration of the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) in Latin America. This milestone marks a pivotal
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.
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.
During the Energy Storage Summit Latin America (ESS LatAm) in October 2024, Ana Lía Rojas, executive director at the Chilean renewable energy and energy storage association (ACERA), explained how the current levels of curtailment in Chile, which could end up at approximately 5TWh in 2024, could power up to 3.4GW of 4-hour duration energy storage.
Having energy storage in Chile is no longer a luxury asset but has become an “absolute necessity”, explains Alejandro McDonough, business development manager of Americas area sales at Wärtsilä Energy Storage and Optimisation (Wärtsilä ES&O).
Appetite for large co-located projects is already present in Chile’s nascent market, notably Oasis de Atacama, one of the largest BESS projects being built globally, located in the Atacama region.
McDonough highlights that Chile’s energy consumption between the day and night does not oscillate much and is stable at around 11-13GW, primarily due to the mining industry. “Mining represents roughly 60% of the total energy consumption [in Chile]. Out of roughly 12GW, nearly 7-8GW comes from mining, all of which need to be supplied 24/7.
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