Chile: 932 MWh grid-forming battery project moves ahead, 660 MWh battery energized at former coal plant site

Engie Chile, a subsidiary of the Engie Group, announced the full energization of its Tocopilla BESS project in the Antofagasta region after connecting the final medium-voltage circuit. Located on the site of the former Tocopilla coal-fired power plant, the project represents Engie’s first large-scale standalone battery storage facility in Chile.

The 116 MW / 660 MWh Tocopilla BESS comprises 240 battery containers and 30 power conversion system (PCS) units. Directly connected to the national transmission grid, the system will enter commercial operation once regulatory and commissioning procedures are finalized.

The project transforms the site of the decommissioned Tocopilla Thermal Complex, where coal and fuel oil units were retired in 2022, into a clean energy asset supporting grid flexibility. With an estimated annual discharge capacity of 211 GWh, the system will store and inject energy into the grid as needed, enhancing reliability during peak demand and supporting Chile’s energy transition.

Meanwhile, in Chile’s Atacama region, Trina Storage – the energy storage division of Trinasolar – and Atlas Renewable Energy are developing the Copiapó PV + BESS project, featuring a 233 MW solar facility and 932 MWh storage plant. The initiative integrates grid-forming technology, positioning it as a pioneering project for grid stability in Chile and across Latin America.

The Copiapó project’s 320 MW BESS uses Trina Storage’s Elementa 2 system, specifically optimized for the extreme conditions of the Atacama Desert. The grid-forming capability allows the system not only to follow existing frequency and voltage (grid-following mode) but also to actively stabilize the grid during disturbances such as voltage drops or sudden generation fluctuations.

Trina Storage supports the project from LFP cell manufacturing through commissioning and on-site operation, with local personnel in Chile. The facility is expected to serve as a technical benchmark for future grid-forming BESS deployments across Latin America.

According to Vicente Walker, Trina Storage’s LATAM Director: “This large-scale project will showcase Trina Storage’s grid-forming technology, improving grid stability in Chile. It also marks another important step in our regional growth, adding to the 1.2 GWh already shipped in 2025 and more than 2.5 GWh in contracts signed for 2026 across Chile, Argentina, and Central America.”

The Copiapó initiative is part of Atlas Renewable Energy’s $475 million financing package, announced last month, for the 357 MWp solar plant with 320 MW of storage.

From pv magazine LatAm