Chile registered the entry into environmental processing of 12 renewable projects , with and without storage , during the last quarter — March, April and May —, which add up to around 1432.55 MW of power and at least 3562.13 MWh of storage capacity .
The trend towards storage is clear, since 8 of the 12 initiatives are hybrid — generation + BESS —, most of which combine solar with storage and only one corresponds to wind + batteries.
Energía Estratégica conducted a survey of the initiatives submitted to the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) of Chile and found that the most relevant in terms of storage capacity are La Hornilla and the modification of the Tres Cruces PV solar plant , both with BESS of 750 MWh .
Also noteworthy are the El Colorado PV plant , with 631.89 MWh ; Bastián Solar , with 500 MWh ; and Loma Verde , with 450 MWh . Meanwhile, the large-scale wind farm with associated BESS is the Las Lilas wind farm , with 240 MW of wind power and 110 MW of storage .
However, the incorporation of storage is not limited to hybrid power plants , but the survey also includes stand-alone systems, such as the projects linked to the Las Cabras and Panguilemo substations.
How are they distributed by region? A wide territorial distribution is observed, where O'Higgins concentrates relevant solar proposals such as La Hornilla and Bastián Solar ; the Maule Region includes those of El Colorado and BESS Panguilemo ; Atacama adds the modification of Tres Cruces ; Coquimbo does the same with Soles del Norte and Monte Patria III ; and Biobío is positioned with the Las Lilas wind project.
Below are the main surveyed products, ordered first by the solar BESS storage systems with the highest capacity, followed by the rest of the technologies with their detailed power output.
Main solar parks with BESS storage
1. La Hornilla Solar Plant
Located in the municipality of Mostazal , O'Higgins Region, the project has an installed capacity of 170.6 MWp and will inject 151.6 MWac into the National Electric System ( SEN) . The project includes 233,632 photovoltaic modules of 730 W each , a 33/220 kV step-up substation, and a 750 MWh BESS system. Construction is expected to take 17 months , employing up to 650 workers at peak, and the plant is projected to operate for 30 years .
2. Modification of the Tres Cruces photovoltaic solar plant
Located in Diego de Almagro and Chañaral , Atacama Region, the plant maintains a photovoltaic capacity of 150 MWp and an estimated annual generation of 430.7 GWh . The modification incorporates a 150 MW / 750 MWh BESS (Basic Energy Storage System), in addition to technical adjustments to the panels , installation areas , schedule , and step-up substation . The energy will be transmitted via a 12.016 km , 220 kV line to the Cumbre substation.
3. El Colorado Photovoltaic Park
Located in the municipality of Río Claro , Maule Region, the solar farm has a nominal installed capacity of 123.1 MW , with an injection of 114 MW into the National Interconnected System ( SEN ). It includes 183,708 solar panels of 670 Wp each , a step-up substation , a 66 kV transmission line, and a 631.89 MWh energy storage system. Its purpose is to dispatch energy during periods of peak demand .
4. Bastián Solar Photovoltaic Park
Located in Rengo , O'Higgins Region, the solar farm will be developed on an area of approximately 123.34 hectares . It will have an installed capacity of 150.09 MWp and will inject 125 MW into the National Electric System (SEN ). It includes 207,032 solar panels of 725 Wp each , a 23/220 kV step-up substation, transmission lines, and a 500 MWh backup energy storage system (BESS) that will allow for the delivery of energy both day and night.
5. Loma Verde Photovoltaic Solar Generation System
It covers an area of 119.3 hectares , has a nominal power of 90 MW , and comprises 137,368 photovoltaic modules mounted on approximately 2,657 trackers . It incorporates a 90 MW / 450 MWh BESS (Basic Storage and Storage System) , consisting of approximately 106 containers , as well as a 33/66 kV substation and a 1.028 km 66 kV connection line to the Litoral Central substation .
6. La Verdiona Photovoltaic Park
It consists of a 70.3 MWac solar plant integrated with a 60 MW / 240 MWh BESS system and a minimum autonomy of four hours . It will be composed of 106,540 665 Wp solar panels and will evacuate energy via a 220 kV single-circuit overhead high-voltage line approximately 6 km long , to the Nueva La Ruca Substation .
7. Monte Patria III Solar Plant
It is a small-scale photovoltaic plant with a total installed capacity of 6.39 MWp and a battery storage and energy efficiency (BESS) system using lithium-ion batteries. The project aims to store energy generated during the day for injection into the grid during peak demand , with an injection capacity of 9 MW at night. Transmission will be carried out via a 23 kV line approximately 1,441 meters long .
Other solar power plants and expansions
8. Expansion and modifications of the Soles del Norte photovoltaic park
This project involves the expansion of a photovoltaic park that has already received environmental approval in the Coquimbo Region. With the proposed changes, the total installed capacity will reach 219.99 MWp . The project includes adjustments to the step-up transformer , increasing its capacity from 105 to 210 MVA , as well as modifications to the 220 kV line, access roads, fencing, storage area, and internal roads. The energy will be fed into the National Interconnected System (SEN) at the Don Goyo substation.
BESS stand-alone
9. BESS System in S/E Las Cabras – Ríos de Pedraza
It consists of a 50 MVA , 240 MWh nominal energy battery storage plant with four hours of autonomy . It includes lithium-ion battery racks , conversion units, a 50 MVA 33/66 kV step-up substation, and a 66 kV line approximately 0.13 km long to connect to the Las Cabras substation .
10. BESS System in S/E Panguilemo – Ríos de Mérida
Located in Talca , Maule Region, the project includes a 50 MVA stand-alone BESS plant connected directly to the National Interconnected System (SEN) via the Panguilemo substation . The document reports a nominal energy output of 240 kWh with four hours of autonomy , a figure that should be verified through a technical assessment before publication. The project will occupy approximately 1.7 hectares and includes a 20/66 kV step-up substation and a 66 kV transmission line approximately 0.12 km long.
Wind power projects
11. Las Lilas Wind Farm
Located in Los Ángeles , Biobío Region, this is one of the largest projects on the list. It comprises 240 MW generated by 30 wind turbines of 8 MW each, in addition to a 110 MW BESS system. It includes a 33/220 kV step-up substation, a 3.84 km 220 kV transmission line, and connection to the National Interconnected System ( SEN) via the Las Lilas Switching Substation . Construction is estimated to take 24 months and operation for 35 years .
12. Modification of PE Cardonal, Manantiales and Los Cerrillos
This is an Environmental Impact Assessment for modifying three existing wind farms that are already built and operational. The complete project involves 19 wind turbines of 5.9 MW each, with a total capacity of 112.1 MW . The modifications include reducing the number of turbines, increasing the nominal power, making technical changes to towers , rotors , and blades , adjusting platforms and foundations, upgrading internal roads, and extending the operation indefinitely .