Are battery energy storage systems a viable alternative for Chilean power producers?

With transmission lines at overcapacity and permitting delays slowing the development of new grid infrastructure, battery energy storage systems (BESS) have surged as a profitable alternative for Chilean power producers.

Is lithium ion battery storage available in Chile?

While many projects are under development, lithium - ion battery storage is still limited. According to data from Acera, the Chilean Renewable Energy Association, there are only 64MW of battery storage capacity currently active, representing 0.2% of national capacity.

How much battery storage does Chile have?

Chile has an operational installed capacity of approximately 1GW in batteries, and another 3GW is under construction. Battery storage has been largely financed by bank lending in recent years, but we believe larger projects could increase the scope for bond financing.

How much does a battery cost in Chile?

In fact, batteries charged at nearly $0/MWh during the day in the sunny, northern desert regions of Chile, sell energy at night for over $100/MWh. Although projects such as Engie’s BESS Coya are already enjoying these large spreads, this capacity payment will partially de-risk Chile’s dependence on volatile, but still profitable, merchant revenues.

How many energy storage projects are in Chile?

According to a December 2023 publication on the InvestChile website, the country had 23 approved energy storage projects with a total of 3,000 MW of capacity. Chile is exploring a variety of solutions to keep abreast of the changing energy demand landscape ranging from BESS to innovative projects using CO2.

Will Chile be able to develop energy storage projects in 2024?

In 2022, Chile passed an energy storage and electromobility bill, which made stand-alone storage projects profitable, but the market is still expecting new rules on capacity payment for storage projects, which are to be approved in 2024. Chile has also put in place an auction procedure to award public land for the development of BESS projects.