Currently, 36 of the 129 large-scale projects Latin America projects with an energy storage component under development are in Chile, including 32 out of 71 of the region's early works projects. The storage technologies either in use or being considered include: Contact online >>
Currently, 36 of the 129 large-scale projects Latin America projects with an energy storage component under development are in Chile, including 32 out of 71 of the region''s early works projects. The storage technologies either in use or being considered include:
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. AES Andes, a subsidiary of U.S. company AES Corp. operates all 64MW at their Angamos and Los Andes substations. In addition, AES Andes announced plans to invest $400 million to double its storage capacity by 2023.
TheInternational Trade Administration,U.S. Department of Commerce, manages this global trade site to provide access to ITA information on promoting trade and investment, strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. This site contains PDF documents. APDF readeris available from Adobe Systems Incorporated.
We encourage you to republish Dialogue Earth articles, online or in print, under the Creative Commons license. Please read our republishing guidelines to get started.
Chilean president Gabriel Boric (centre) at the inauguration of an energy storage plant in the northern region of Antofagasta in April 2024. Chile has strong conditions for wind and solar energy, and is pursuing storage to help overcome intermittent supply (Image: Ximena Navarro / Dirección de Prensa, Presidencia de la República de Chile)
In 2023, the region generated 64% of its electricity from clean sources, far above the global average of 39%. As production continues to ramp up, the need to store this energy is increasing alongside it.
"Simply put, the reason for storing electrical energy is that you can decide when you use it," explains Claudio Seebach, Dean of the Science and Engineering Faculty at Adolfo Ibáñez University in Santiago, Chile. "Energy can be stored for when demand is highest – it solves the natural imbalance between moments of supply and demand."
This is of particular importance in the renewables sector, where solar and wind generation provide clean, but intermittent power: when the sun isn''t shining or the wind drops, generation stops with it.
The country benefits from a unique geography and climate: in the north, the Atacama Desert boasts the highest levels of solar irradiance on Earth and, in the far south in Patagonia, Chile is buffeted by some of the strongest winds on the planet.
But at times, these features count against it, too. For half the year, the sun sets at a similar time all along the slender tract of land it occupies on South America''s coastline, creating an immediate need for energy storage – a sector in which the country is already making progress, with the launch of ambitious targets, strategies to incentivise investment in technology, and multiple projects already online and in the pipeline.
Today, energy can be stored in multiple ways, including using banks of large-scale batteries, which can store electricity before it is injected back into national grids. Though lithium-ion batteries are the most efficient on the market, the wider use of lead or sodium alternatives could be just around the corner.
"Battery storage is efficient, but very short term," says Enzo Sauma, a professor in industrial and systems engineering at Chile''s Pontifical Catholic University. "If you store energy in a battery one month and want to use it the next, then there will be nothing there because the energy dissipates. But you can use the energy very efficiently by storing it on a day where there is lots of sunlight and then releasing it overnight."
The sharp growth in renewable energy production, and the pursuit of ambitious global targets on new capacity, bring with them a significant challenge, alongside huge potential for the storage market''s expansion. The global energy storage market is currently valued at around USD 246 billion, with an estimated 387GW of new energy storage capacity anticipated to be added globally by 2030, according to a report from US-based law firm Morgan Lewis. This is a 15-fold increase compared to the end of 2021.
By 2030, Chile is seeking to supply 70% of its total energy consumption with renewable energy sources, and aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Though its nightly solar shortfalls are currently plugged by fossil fuel generation, the country has pledged to close its remaining coal-fired power plants by 2040. To achieve its ambitious renewable energy targets, developing energy storage is imperative. But the country has made strong progress, fast becoming Latin America''s poster child for such technologies.
Chile''s first battery energy storage projects were commissioned in 2009, and all but two of its 16 administrative regions have facilities in operation, under construction or in the planning stage. The greatest installed capacity is found in the northern regions of Antofagasta and Tarapacá, the country''s solar powerhouses.
About Energy storage technologies chile
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Energy storage technologies chile have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Energy storage technologies chile for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Energy storage technologies chile featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
