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 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.

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.

How much electricity does Chile use per capita?

The country's electricity consumption per capita is around 4 MWh (3rd in South America). Chile's Energy Roadmap for 2050 targets a zero-emission power mix (mainly solar and wind) and a shift from private to public transportation which, according to the plan, should be low or non-carbon-emitting by 2050.

Will new solar assets in Chile have storage components?

New utility-scale renewable and PMGE assets in Chile (most of which are distributed solar plants smaller than 9 MW) will likely all have storage components moving forward.

Can co-located batteries help solar plants capture better power prices?

Co-located batteries, like Engie S.A.’s BESS Coya, will help solar plants capture better power prices by charging the batteries during solar hours when power prices are very low and dispatching energy during peak hours when prices are close to USD 100/MWh.