SMA has won the contract to construct a 228 MW battery storage project in the Chilean Atacama desert. The new project complements the existing 220 MW PV power plant Diego de Almagro Sur that electric utility company Colbún S.A. operates. 67 SMA battery systems along with batteries by eStorage, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., will be used for building the storage system. The scheduled commissioning is in December 2026.
Once completed , it will be one of the largest battery storage projects in the region. The project will have capacity of 918 MWh and a four-hour charging and discharging time. SMA is also provide a plant control system specifically developed for large-scale storage projects. Apart from storing solar power, the battery storage system will contribute to Chile’s energy security.
“Building this “4-hour-project” together with our partners is a game-changing example of integrating PV and battery storage systems on an industrial scale,” said Florian Bechthold, Executive Vice President Division Large-Scale and Storage Solutions at SMA. “Solar power is stored in a grid-supportive manner and is used 24/7 to stabilize the grid. This underscores SMA’s commitment to the expansion of a sustainable and secure energy supply in Latin America.”
“We thank eStorage and Colbún for their trust in our energy systems,” said Daniel Rosende, General Manager of SMA in Latin America. “This project, in which we are also working closely with grid operator Coordinador Electrico Naccional, represents a milestone for SMA in Latin America. It emphasizes our technological leadership in the field of storage solutions and demonstrates the potential of our grid-forming solutions under challenging conditions and our contribution to a climate-friendly energy future in Chile.”
