Zelestra, a global renewable energy company known for its multi-technology approach and customer-centric solutions, has reached Financial Close for its Aurora project in Chile. The project is backed by a $282 million financing package secured from Natixis CIB and BNP Paribas, with an additional VAT facility provided by BCI.
Located in the Tarapacá region, the Aurora project combines a 220 MWdc solar power plant with nearly 1 GWh of energy storage capacity, making it one of the largest hybrid energy storage initiatives in Latin America. This multi-technology setup was specifically designed to ensure the continuous supply of renewable energy, including during night-time hours, under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Abastible—one of Chile’s leading energy companies and a major player in the liquefied natural gas and electricity markets.
Leo Moreno, CEO of Zelestra, said in a statement, “Aurora is a landmark transaction for Zelestra and reinforces the financial community’s confidence in our customer-first strategy to develop multi-technology solutions that deliver for our clients. This is a very ambitious project that includes one the largest battery storage projects in Latin America. With construction already underway, we are now focused on delivering the project on-time and on-budget.”
Zelestra’s in-house Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) division is managing the delivery of the project. Once operational, Aurora is expected to generate around 600 GWh of clean electricity annually, enough to meet the energy needs of approximately 200,000 households in Chile. The project marks a significant contribution to Chile’s efforts to decarbonize its energy sector and demonstrates Zelestra’s commitment to providing innovative, scalable renewable energy solutions in global markets.
