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Located in the Libertador General Bernardo OHiggins region, it involves an investment of $220 million and an estimated useful life of 35 years. The Portuguese multinational EDP has submitted the Cumbres del Sol Photovoltaic Park project to the Chilean Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA). This project involves the construction and operation of a 140 MWp (111 MWac) solar plant in the Libertador General Bernardo OHiggins region, specifically in the municipalities of Malloa and San Fernando. The initiative, which involves an investment of $220 million, includes a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 619 MWh, which is expected to manage the production and delivery of energy to the National Electric System (SEN). According to the documentation submitted, the photovoltaic plant will be installed on a surface area of ??313.22 hectares and will consist of 229,600 solar modules mounted on mobile tracker-type structures. These modules will be connected via a medium-voltage grid to transformer stations equipped with inverters, which transform the direct current generated by the panels into alternating current, suitable for injection into the SEN (National Electricity System). The energy will be evacuated by disconnecting the existing 220 kV Candelaria–Puente Negro transmission line, after passing through a 33/220 kV disconnecting-transforming substation. The planned BESS system will use lithium-ion batteries and store up to 619 MWh of energy, facilitating electricity delivery during peak demand or low solar radiation hours. During the construction phase, the project will require an average of 350 workers, with a maximum of 550 direct jobs during peak periods. During the operational phase, the estimated workforce will range from 10 to 35, while the closure or abandonment phase is expected to involve up to 200 workers. Construction is scheduled to begin on November 30, 2027, with a projected useful life of 35 years. In March of this year, EDP submitted the 539 MW Vientos de Taltal hybrid wind-solar park for environmental assessment , with an estimated investment of $750 million. It will be located in the Antofagasta region. It will have 256 MW of wind power and 283 MW of photovoltaic power, and will also include a BESS system with a capacity of 360 MW and a runtime of up to 5 hours. The OHiggins region has become a hub for solar energy development in Chile. In recent months, the area has seen the presentation of several photovoltaic and storage projects, including the Remanso Energy Storage System (150 MW/750 MWh BESS) , along with other smaller projects totaling hundreds of megawatts in installed capacity and several BESS systems in various stages of environmental assessment. It should be noted that last May, Chilean utility Colbún officially withdrew its $500 million El Encanto solar-plus-storage project, which included a 249.7 MWp photovoltaic plant located next to a 260 MW / 1,040 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) capable of delivering four hours of discharge. |
