First batteries arrive for Colbún’s 912 MWh storage project in Chile

Colbún has achieved a major milestone in the construction of its Diego de Almagro Sur battery energy storage system (BESS). The company confirmed the arrival of the first 70 battery units—out of a total of 201—at the project site in Chile.

The batteries, supplied by e-Storage (a subsidiary of Canadian Solar), initially arrived at Puerto Angamos. They were then transported from the La Negra industrial sector in the Antofagasta Region to the project site in the commune of Diego de Almagro, Atacama Region.

César Novoa, Manager of Photovoltaic Projects and Batteries at Colbún, highlighted the progress: “The arrival of these first SolBanks represents a key advance in the construction of our BESS project. It allows us to strengthen the renewable supply and provide greater stability to the electrical system, ensuring clean energy availability even during hours when there is no sun.”

The storage system is associated with the Diego de Almagro Sur Photovoltaic Park, a 232 MW plant that Colbún has been operating since 2022. The initiative involves an investment of approximately US$200 million.

The facility will feature a total power capacity of 228 MW and a storage capacity of 912 MWh (a 4-hour duration). Its primary objective is to ensure continuity of renewable supply and support the flexibility of the National Electric System (SEN).

According to the current schedule, the BESS is projected to enter commercial operation in December 2026. The construction phase is expected to generate a peak of up to 150 jobs, and once operational, the system will be capable of covering the energy consumption equivalent of approximately 55,480 households.

From pv magazine LATAM.