en.Wedoany.com Reported - ContourGlobal has commenced construction of the Los Maitenes project in Chile. The project is a hybrid solar-plus-storage plant, comprising 131 MWp of solar photovoltaic capacity and 90 MW/360 MWh of battery energy storage.
Once fully built, ContourGlobal's renewable energy and storage portfolio in Chile will grow to approximately 583 MWp of solar PV and 490 MW/2.9 GWh of battery storage, with clean generation and storage assets totaling over 1 GW. Located in the O'Higgins Region, Los Maitenes expands the company's footprint into a new area, complementing its existing Víctor Jara plant in the Tarapacá Region and the Quillagua I and II plants in the Antofagasta Region.
Chile's power system faces absorption pressure during peak solar generation hours, as the grid cannot always absorb or transmit all photovoltaic output. Los Maitenes leverages battery storage to store daytime solar power and discharge it during peak demand periods outside solar hours, helping mitigate curtailment risks. The project's proximity to major electricity consumption centers also reduces transmission constraint risks.
The project is expected to generate approximately 220 GWh of clean electricity annually, with all works scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. A significant portion of the plant's output is secured under a long-term power purchase agreement covering both daytime and nighttime periods, underpinned by the flexibility of the four-hour battery storage system, with the remaining output to be sold into the spot market.
Antonio Cammisecra, Chief Executive Officer of ContourGlobal, stated that the company's expansion in Chile is advancing in step with the transformation of the country's power system. Chile is at the forefront of combining renewable generation with storage, and Los Maitenes continues the company's "sunshine at night" business model—storing daytime solar power in batteries and delivering it during peak demand outside solar hours—as part of its strategy to build large-scale hybrid renewable platforms.
James Lee Stancampiano, General Manager for Latin America at ContourGlobal, stated that the project demonstrates the company's ability to convert evolving customer and market needs into bankable energy solutions, while also reflecting its local expertise and footprint in Chile's energy market.
On the construction front, peak on-site workforce will reach up to 400 workers during delivery of the solar plant, storage facility, substation, and associated works; over the approximately 15-month construction period, civil, mechanical, electrical, and commissioning activities are expected to involve a cumulative total of around 900 direct workers. Including indirect employment from transportation, local services, suppliers, and subcontractors, the project's total employment impact is expected to exceed 1,300 people.
ContourGlobal is maintaining ongoing engagement with local communities and institutional stakeholders near the project site, keeping them informed of construction schedules and coordinating on activities that may have an impact.
