Chile Boosts Energy Storage with 1.7 GWh Expansion
Chile is expanding its energy storage capacity with plans to add 1.7 GWh. Colbún is leading this effort, constructing a 228 MW/912 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at its Diego de Almagro Sur solar plant in the Atacama region. This project, along with Engie's conversion of its Mejillones Thermal Complex to natural gas and addition of a 140 MW/802 MWh BESS, aims to enhance Chile's National Electric System.
Colbún's BESS, set for commercial operation in December 2026, will provide backup, regulation, and energy transfer services. It will power around 55,480 homes under optimal conditions. The system uses E-Storage's SolBank 3.0, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries with active balancing management and liquid cooling.
The 228 MW/912 MWh BESS at Diego de Almagro Sur is being installed by e-STORAGE/Canadian Solar. Meanwhile, Engie is decommissioning coal-fired units at Mejillones and converting the site to run on natural gas. A 140 MW/802 MWh BESS will be installed here, powering over 80,000 homes for five hours and expected to be operational before 2027. Both projects aim to optimize resources and reduce costs by using existing infrastructure.
The addition of these BESS systems in Chile will significantly boost the country's energy storage capacity. Colbún's and Engie's projects, totaling 1.7 GWh, will enhance grid stability and reliability, supporting Chile's transition to cleaner energy sources.
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