ENGIE energises 46-MW battery storage project in Chile"s Atacama

ENGIE Chile has completed the energisation of BESS Los Loros, a battery energy storage system located at the Los Loros Solar PV Park in the municipality of Tierra Amarilla, in Chile"s Atacama Region.

With 46 MW of installed power and 230 MWh of storage capacity, the system will store electricity generated by the solar plant during daylight hours and dispatch it to the national power system during periods of higher demand.

The project strengthens grid flexibility and supports the integration of renewable energy in one of Latin America"s most dynamic clean energy markets.

Following energisation, the facility has entered the final phase prior to its Commercial Operation Date (COD), which is expected in the second half of 2026.

Carlos Regolf, Head of Projects Renewables and Batteries at ENGIE Chile, highlighted the importance of the milestone:

"This marks an important step in the development of energy storage in Chile.

Systems such as BESS Los Loros allow renewable energy generated in the country to be used more efficiently and delivered to the grid when it is most needed, contributing to a more flexible and sustainable power mix.

BESS Los Loros consists of 63 lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery containers, a technology widely recognised in the energy storage industry for its high safety standards, long lifecycle and operational efficiency.

The project represents an investment of approximately US$64 million.

The system is connected to the Los Loros Solar Park Central Substation (110/23 kV), enabling more efficient management of the electricity generated by the photovoltaic plant.

Thanks to its storage capacity, the installation could supply electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of around 40,000 Chilean households.

The project forms part of ENGIE"s growing battery energy storage portfolio in Chile, aimed at supporting grid integration of renewable energy, particularly solar PV generation in the country"s northern regions.

Key energy storage projects currently promoted by the company include:

Most of these storage systems are designed with an average discharge duration of approximately five hours, enabling them to shift solar generation from daytime periods to peak evening demand.

The expansion of BESS capacity is becoming a key pillar of Chile"s renewable energy strategy, helping to address curtailment of solar power in the north and enhancing the reliability of the national electricity system.