Chile vanadium energy storage power station commissioning time

Is Chile ready for a standalone energy storage project?

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.

Do Chilean co-located storage assets need an environmental impact statement?

Since Chilean co-located storage assets don’t require an Environmental Impact Statement (known locally as the DIA), development times for storage assets have been cut in half compared to solar or wind assets.

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.

Does Chile have a capacity payment system?

Since 1982, the Chilean market has recognized capacity payment for plants that contribute adequacy to the electrical system. With Law 20.936 of 2016, the existence of energy storage systems (Energy Storage Systems or SAE) and hybrid energy systems (Renewable Plants with Storage Capacity or CRCA) was recognized in the law.

How much energy storage will Chile have in 2024?

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.

Will new solar assets in Chile have storage components?

New utility-scale renewable and PMGE assets in Chile (most of which are distributed solar plants smaller than 9 MW) will likely all have storage components moving forward.