KKR-owned ContourGlobal has commissioned a 221MWp photovoltaic solar plant with a 1200MWh battery storage system, capable of delivering 200MW for more than 6 hours after sunset in Chile.
This milestone marks the final stage before the commencing commercial operation in the coming weeks and starting to fulfil its long-term PPA.
The developer said that its Quillagua project is the largest solar plant coupled with battery storage system in Latin America.
Antonio Cammisecra, global chief executive of ContourGlobal, said: “We are proud to begin operations at Quillagua months ahead of schedule, bringing the sun’s energy at night, and to share this moment with our partners, the community, and local institutions and authorities.
“This is key to stabilising the grid, addressing excess daytime supply and peak demand challenges.
“We are deeply committed to this country, and, beyond storage, we are also exploring opportunities in wind power, diversifying our technological approach to meet the dynamic energy needs of Chile.”
Quillagua is part of a larger development that includes another similar facility in the Tarapacá region.
The Victor Jara plant, with 231MWp of photovoltaic solar energy and 1.3GWh of battery storage, which will be ready in the second half of the year, several months ahead of the initial plan.
Both projects, with a total capacity of 452MWp solar and 2.5GWh of battery storage, were acquired from Grenergy at the end of last year by ContourGlobal, marking the entry of the US KKR-backed company into Chile.
Once fully operational, this portfolio will generate about 1,300GWh annually, positioning ContourGlobal as a key renewable operator in Chile, a country where the company intends to grow and invest.
This inauguration strengthens Chile’s role as a pioneer in harnessing the solar potential of its regions and the Atacama Desert to develop energy storage battery systems (BESS) for long-duration energy storage projects, ContourGlobal said.
The construction of this ambitious solar project has created 313 direct jobs, involving workers from six nationalities, and 176 indirect jobs.
It also included the installation of more than 452,000 solar panels, 5,000 solar trackers, 267 battery storage modules, 44 transformation centres, and 90 inverters, ensuring the creation of nearly 20 permanent jobs for its ongoing operation.