Chile’s Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) has approved the Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) for the 200 MW/1,000 MWh Huañil BESS energy storage project, developed by Italian firm Limes Renewable Energy.
The project will occupy a total area of 14.89 hectares in Quelen Alto, within the municipality of Salamanca in the Coquimbo region. The project represents an estimated investment of $188 million and will consist of interconnected battery clusters.
The approved scope also includes supporting infrastructure, notably a step-up substation and a high-voltage transmission line. The Huañil Substation will raise the system voltage from 33 kV to 220 kV, enabling interconnection with the National Electric System (SEN) through a new high-voltage transmission line approximately 2.47 km in length.
Construction is scheduled to begin on March 2 and will last approximately 18 months. The facility is expected to have a useful life of 37 years, including 35 years of operation and a six-month decommissioning phase.
At peak construction, the workforce will number around 40 workers, while ongoing operations will require three maintenance personnel.
In December, Milan-based Limes Renewable Energy also secured RCA approval for its Pradera Larga project in the Valparaíso region, which includes 84 MWp of photovoltaic capacity paired with a 90 MW/450 MWh BESS – another five-hours storage system.
Limes Renewable Energy reports a development portfolio in Chile totaling approximately 180 MWp of solar PV capacity and 620 MW of battery energy storage projects.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Grupo Ibereólica Renovables has announced the launch of a large-scale rollout of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across its project portfolio in Chile. The company reports that a total of 1,330 MW of storage capacity is currently undergoing the permitting process.
The flagship development is the Antofagasta Hybrid Renewable Energy Project, which combines wind and photovoltaic generation with a total installed capacity of 1,203 MW. The project includes a 990 MW BESS system with a storage capacity of 4,950 MWh, equivalent to five hours of discharge at full output, positioning it among the largest renewable energy storage facilities in Chile.
The strategy also includes the hybridization of the Cabo Leones III Wind Farm in the Atacama Region. The facility has an operational installed capacity of 192.5 MW across two phases and is set to incorporate a 170 MW BESS system providing 680 MWh of storage, corresponding to four hours of discharge.
In addition, the operational Atacama Wind Farm in Freirina, with an installed capacity of 165.3 MW, will be expanded with a 170 MW battery storage system delivering 680 MWh of daily storage.
From pv magazine LatAm and pv magazine Spain
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Your email address will not be published.
This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy.
The cookie settings on this website are set to “allow cookies” to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click “Accept” below then you are consenting to this.
Close
