Enel Chile unveils over 1 GW of solar, wind-storage hybrid projects

Santiago-based electric utility Enel Chile SA has started the construction of two solar PV projects totalling around 773 MW in the north of Chile and is working on two wind-plus-storage projects in the country, the company said on Monday at its Investor Day event.

The projects are part of Enel Chile’s 2022-2024 strategic plan, which sees the utility adding 3.3 GW of new renewable energy capacity by the end of the planning period.

Of the new solar projects, the Campos del Sol II in the Atacama region will have an installed capacity of 398 MW. The 375-MW Sierra Gorda Solar plant, in the Antofagasta region, will be co-located with the operational Sierra Gorda Este wind farm to form a hybrid installation, Enel Chile said.

In 2022, the utility expects to start the construction of hybrid projects featuring 226 MW of wind power and some 60 MW in battery storage capacity.

The first to launch will be the 106-MW La Cabana wind project with a battery storage system of close to 30 MW, followed by the 120-MW Rihue with a 30-MW battery.

The company is currently moving forward with the construction of the 163-MW Valle del Sol solar project in Antofagasta, it said.

The Chilean company expects these and other projects will enable it have an energy mix that is 80% based on renewables by 2024 and help it achieve carbon neutrality in 2040.

Enel Chile is part of Italian power company Enel SpA (BIT:ENEL).

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