Enel Green Power begins construction of BESS project at hybrid plant

The new battery energy storage system (BESS) will have an installed capacity of 94 MW and a storage capacity of 372 MWh.

Through its subsidiary Enel Green Power Chile, Enel Chile has begun construction of the Azabache BESS in the Antofagasta Region. The project is part of a hybrid renewable energy plant that will integrate three technologies at a single site: solar, wind, and storage.

The system will have an installed capacity of 94 MW and a storage capacity of 372 MWh, with 36 MW at the Valle de los Vientos Wind Farm and 58 MW at the Azabache Solar Plant.

With an annual storage capacity of 136 GWh, the Azabache BESS is equivalent to 10% of the volume of the Pangue hydroelectric plant’s reservoir, one of the country’s largest hydraulic infrastructures, which can store 175 million cubic meters (175 Hm³).

The initiative complements another project in the Antofagasta Region, the Las Salinas BESS project, which began construction in November 2025.

BESS systems play a key role in the power generation chain by shifting the production curve from renewable sources and ensuring efficient delivery when the system requires it.

The stored energy can be fed into the grid during hours without transmission constraints, ensuring reliable operation, reducing dependence on thermal power plants, avoiding greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting a cleaner, more sustainable system.

In line with its Sustainability and Community Relations policy, Enel Green Power will implement training programs for the local workforce during construction, as well as educational initiatives and activities to preserve the heritage and culture of Calama and its surrounding areas.

The commissioning of the Azabache BESS marks a milestone in Enel’s hybridization strategy, reaffirming its commitment to Chile’s decarbonization and the efficient integration of renewable energy, thereby strengthening the security and stability of the national power system.

Are you looking for opportunities to develop or expand a project in Chile? InvestChile supports investors with up-to-date market and regulatory information, assistance with project site analysis, public-private coordination and access to innovation and development tools.

For more information on how we can help you, visit www.investchile.gob.cl or contact us here.