Chile's AES Andes Commissions Bolero BESS, Bringing Cumulative Storage to 756 MW

en.Wedoany.com Reported - AES Andes announced that the Bolero BESS battery energy storage system, located in the Antofagasta Region of Chile, has entered commercial operation. The project serves as energy storage supporting a photovoltaic plant, adding 146 MW of new grid-connected capacity, bringing the company's cumulative BESS operating capacity in Chile to 756 MW, positioning it among the leading energy storage portfolios in Latin America.

Bolero BESS is directly integrated into the Bolero photovoltaic plant (Parque Solar Bolero), leveraging the abundant solar radiation resources in northern Chile. The storage system features a 3-hour discharge autonomy capability, enabling it to absorb surplus electricity from the photovoltaic plant during midday hours and supply power to the National Electric System (SEN) during evening peak demand, injecting approximately 160 GWh of renewable energy annually.

The introduction of this technology aims to mitigate renewable energy curtailment in the northern region, optimize photovoltaic plant operation management, and enhance the flexibility, resilience, and security of power supply of the electric system under conditions where transmission bottlenecks affect system operation.

AES Andes CEO Javier Dib stated that the commissioning of Bolero BESS is a step in the execution of the company's decarbonization strategy. Energy storage is crucial to building a more renewable, secure, and flexible energy mix, as this technology enables more efficient use of available resources and meets the continuously growing demand for renewable energy.

This initiative is part of the company's growth and investment plan advancing in the northern region, which encompasses integrated power generation and storage projects, including Pampas, Cristales, Arenales, and Atacama BESS, among others.

With the commissioning of Bolero BESS, AES Andes and its subsidiaries now have a combined installed and operating capacity of 4,079 MW in Chile, comprising 1,009 MW of solar PV, 756 MW of BESS storage, 771 MW of hydropower, 435 MW of wind power, and 1,108 MW of thermal power.

The aforementioned infrastructure is also supported by seawater desalination plants and high-voltage transmission lines. Additionally, the company currently has 1,875 MW of new renewable energy projects under construction, along with a portfolio of projects at various stages of development, of which 4,131 MW has obtained Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) certification.