Chile opens land bidding for 13.2 GWh of energy storage projects

The Chilean ministry of national assets kicked off a bidding process on Monday, inviting developers to lease public land in northern Chile for the construction of standalone energy storage facilities.

Interested parties can choose from six sites spread across the regions of Tarapaca, Antofagasta and Atacama, and specific substations at each site for their projects, according to the ministry’s resolution to launch the call for bids.

The grid operator has determined the maximum storage capacity at each of the six substations which the bidders cannot exceed. The maximum capacity across all six substations totals 13.2 GWh.

Successful bidders will be awarded a land concession for a period of up to 40 years.

Applications can be submitted by May 23, 2024. The energy ministry will be responsible for evaluating the proposals, a process that will last until June 24, 2024.

“Under the administration of President Gabriel Boric's government, the ministry of national assets has granted a total of 32 concessions for onerous use for non-conventional renewable energy projects, handing over a total of 14,756 hectares of public land to private companies,” said the minister of national assets, Marcela Sandoval.

These renewable energy projects will contribute over 6,500 MW to the national electricity system, according to Sandoval, who expressed hope that the interest in land for energy storage would be equally successful.

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