Chile energy storage power source factory

How many energy storage projects are in Chile?

According to a December 2023 publication on the InvestChile website, the country had 23 approved energy storage projects with a total of 3,000 MW of capacity. Chile is exploring a variety of solutions to keep abreast of the changing energy demand landscape ranging from BESS to innovative projects using CO2.

Will Chile be able to develop energy storage projects in 2024?

In 2022, Chile passed an energy storage and electromobility bill, which made stand-alone storage projects profitable, but the market is still expecting new rules on capacity payment for storage projects, which are to be approved in 2024. Chile has also put in place an auction procedure to award public land for the development of BESS projects.

What is CIP's first energy storage project in Chile?

“The project has issued the final notification for its execution and will be one of the first projects of this type to reach commercial operations in Chile,” the company said in a statement. The 220 MW/1.1 GWh site is CIP’s first energy storage project in Chile.

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.

Why is Chile pursuing energy storage in Antofagasta?

Chilean president Gabriel Boric (centre) at the inauguration of an energy storage plant in the northern region of Antofagasta in April 2024. Chile has strong conditions for wind and solar energy, and is pursuing storage to help overcome intermittent supply (Image: Ximena Navarro / Dirección de Prensa, Presidencia de la República de Chile)

Are battery energy storage systems a viable alternative for Chilean power producers?

With transmission lines at overcapacity and permitting delays slowing the development of new grid infrastructure, battery energy storage systems (BESS) have surged as a profitable alternative for Chilean power producers.