Solaer plans 197 MW of solar, 500 MWh of battery storage for data center in Chile

Solaer Renewable Energies is entering the digital infrastructure market with a planned data center campus in Chile’s Atacama region that will combine 197 MW of solar capacity and 500 MWh of battery storage to support artificial intelligence and other high-performance computing applications.

The company’s Chilean subsidiary has signed a long-term lease agreement covering around 2,000 hectares in northern Chile. The agreement will allow Solaer to conduct technical, environmental, and economic studies, obtain permits, and potentially develop and operate the energy and digital infrastructure project.

The initial evaluation phase is expected to last up to 36 months. If the project proceeds, the lease provides for 25 years of operation, with extension options that could extend the total term to 40 years.

The campus would be located next to ENAPAC, Solaer’s desalination project designed to supply water to mining operations and other users in the Atacama region. The combined infrastructure would include 197 MW of solar generation, 500 MWh of battery storage, and around 400 km of water pipelines.

Solaer said the combination of solar power, batteries, and desalinated water would address key requirements for large-scale data centers, including continuous electricity supply, cooling water availability, and space for future expansion. The company has not disclosed the planned computing capacity, investment requirements, construction timeline, or potential technology partners.

Corporate information currently available for ENAPAC lists an earlier configuration of 150 MW solar capacity and around 400 MWh of storage. The project remains under development, with previous estimates placing investment for the combined energy, desalination, and water transport infrastructure at around $1.5 billion.

Solaer develops renewable energy, storage, and desalination projects across Israel, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Chile. The company was founded in 2009 and reports a pipeline of 1.5 GW under development, 1.4 GW under construction or pre-construction, and 129 MW operational.

From pv magazine LatAm