Wedoany.com Report on Mar 18th, Chile's Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) has approved the Llanos de Marañón photovoltaic storage project led by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), authorizing the construction and operation of this hybrid energy facility in the Atacama Region. The project is located approximately 4 km northeast of Vallenar, with the main area covering that municipality and partially extending into the Freirina commune of Huasco Province.

The design includes a photovoltaic power plant with a rated capacity of 432 MW and a peak capacity of 458 MW, equipped with a 150 MW, 4-hour battery Energy Storage System (BESS), achieving a total energy storage capacity of 600 MWh. It aims to enhance the operational flexibility of the National Electric System (SEN). The plant will utilize 819,801 units of 555 W monocrystalline bifacial photovoltaic modules installed on single-axis trackers, covering an area of approximately 825.7 hectares.

Electricity will be transmitted via a 220 kV, 25.4 km long transmission line to the Nueva Maitencillo substation. FRV stated that the project includes 192 battery storage modules, 2,160 units of 200 kW inverters, and 72 units of 6 MVA transformer centers.

Furthermore, the project encompasses a 33/220 kV step-up substation, a switching center, internal roads, a control room, warehouses, construction facilities, storage areas, and low and medium voltage underground networks. During the construction phase, it is expected to employ up to 550 workers at peak times, providing an average of 350 jobs. The project has a designed operational lifespan of 38 years.

FRV stated that the Llanos de Marañón PV Storage Project aims to inject renewable energy into the National Electric System and enhance its flexibility through energy storage technology, employing a scheme that combines solar power and batteries on the same transmission infrastructure. According to company estimates, the project's annual power generation is expected to reach 1,282,000 MWh.