The first battery units have arrived at the BESS Diego de Almagro Sur project, developed by the Chilean power generation company Colbún, marking a significant milestone in the construction phase that began in September 2025.
A total of 70 battery units — out of 201 planned — were delivered to Puerto Angamos and transported from the La Negra industrial area in the Antofagasta Region to the project site in the municipality of Diego de Almagro, Atacama Region. The batteries are supplied by e-Storage, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, a global solar PV and energy storage manufacturer.
Transport logistics were carried out under strict safety standards and in compliance with Chilean regulations for oversized cargo, using designated daytime routes.
César Novoa, Head of Solar PV and Battery Projects at Colbún, stated that “the arrival of these first SolBank units represents a key step forward in the construction of our BESS project. It will strengthen renewable energy supply, enhance power system stability and ensure clean energy delivery during hours when solar generation is unavailable.”
The battery energy storage system (BESS) is co-located with the 232 MW Diego de Almagro Sur Solar Park, which Colbún has operated since 2022 in northern Chile.
With an investment of approximately US$ 200 million, the project will deliver:
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228 MW of installed power capacity
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912 MWh of daily energy storage capacity
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Storage capability equivalent to supplying around 55,480 households
By enabling the storage and dispatch of solar PV generation during non-solar hours, the project supports greater grid integration of renewable energy and contributes to system flexibility in Chile’s National Electric System.
At peak construction, the project is expected to generate up to 150 jobs.
Novoa added: “This type of infrastructure is essential to advancing the energy transition, as it allows renewable energy to be stored and delivered when it is most needed. In doing so, we are reinforcing a more flexible, efficient and future-ready power matrix.”
Battery energy storage systems are playing an increasingly strategic role in Chile’s renewable energy market, where high solar PV penetration in northern regions has heightened the need for flexibility solutions, grid balancing and enhanced reliability.
