Grenergy builds 960 MWh Chilean solar-plus-storage site

Spanish company Grenergy has laid the symbolic foundation stone for the Monte Águila solar-plus-storage plant in El Cabrero, in Chile’s Biobío region.

The near-$300 million project will feature a 960 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and 340 MW of solar generation capacity and will feed into Chile’s National Electric System (SEN) via the Santa María–Charrúa transmission line. The project, due online by early 2027, features the construction of electricity infrastructure including two electrical towers.

Monte Águila is one of five projects in Grenergy’s Oasis Central project portfolio in central Chile. The Tamango, Teno, Planchón, and Sol de Caone sites, in Maule; plus Monte Águila, will bring 3.8 GWh of energy storage capacity and 1.1 GW of solar online during 2027.

The project capacity is all backed by power purchase agreements (PPAs) and the deals include the first 24/7 baseload PPA signed by state-owned copper company Codelco.

Oasis Central is modeled on the hybridization approach used at Grenergy’s Oasis de Atacama site in northern Chile. That €2 billion ($2.32 billion) project, due 2027, will feature 11 GWh of storage and 2 GW of solar capacity.

Grenergy, at its Capital Markets Day event in London in May, announced plans to invest €3.5 billion through 2027 to consolidate its energy storage leadership. Around 70% of that figure is earmarked for Chilean projects.

From pv magazine España.