Enel Green Power Chile has started construction of a 100 MW grid-forming battery energy storage system at its Finis Terrae solar plant in Antofagasta. The project will store surplus solar generation while providing voltage and frequency support to Chile’s electricity system.
Enel Green Power Chile has commenced construction of a 100 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) at its existing Finis Terrae solar photovoltaic facility in the Antofagasta region. The project will convert the plant into a hybrid solar-plus-storage facility, enabling greater flexibility in the delivery of renewable electricity to Chile’s National Electric System.
The BESS will be connected at the plant’s interconnection point and will store electricity generated by the solar facility during periods of high production. The stored power can subsequently be dispatched when electricity demand increases or when additional renewable generation is required, improving the overall utilisation of the solar resource.
The project’s grid-forming capability is a key element of the development. Its battery inverters will be capable of operating similarly to conventional synchronous generators, helping provide voltage and frequency stability to the electricity network. This functionality is expected to become increasingly important as Chile integrates higher volumes of variable renewable generation.
The storage facility will also help mitigate challenges arising from the rapid growth of solar power in northern Chile. Periods of excess solar generation have contributed to renewable energy curtailment and low or negative electricity prices, particularly when available generation exceeds transmission capacity or electricity demand. By storing surplus power, the BESS can shift generation to periods when it can be more effectively utilised.
Finis Terrae will become Enel Green Power’s sixth large-scale battery storage project in Chile. The company currently has around 730 MW of storage capacity in the country, covering both operational facilities and projects under development or construction.
Enel is also developing the 205 MW Las Salinas BESS and 94 MW Azabache BESS in Chile. Its operational storage portfolio includes the 34 MW La Cabaña, 67 MW Don Humberto and 67 MW El Manzano battery projects.
Chile has become one of Latin America’s leading markets for utility-scale battery storage, driven by the rapid expansion of solar and wind generation. Developers are increasingly pairing renewable power projects with multi-hour storage systems to shift electricity from periods of high renewable output to times of stronger demand.
The Finis Terrae project reflects the growing role of grid-forming battery technology in Chile’s power sector. By combining solar generation with advanced energy storage, the development is expected to improve renewable energy utilisation, provide additional grid support and contribute to a more flexible and stable electricity system.