Innergex commissions 35-MW BESS in Chile

Canadian independent power producer Innergex Renewable Energy Inc (TSE:INE) has commissioned its 35-MW/175-MWh San Andres battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile.

The five-hour BESS has started operations and is interacting with the grid, Innergex said on Tuesday.

Located at the company's existing San Andres solar farm in Atacama, the battery will store excess solar power during the day and dispatch it during the evening and early mornings to capture peak market prices.

Innergex expects the BESS to generate between USD 6 million (EUR 5.53m) and USD 8 million in annual revenues on a run-rate basis. Operating, general and administrative costs are expected to reach USD 0.4 million in the first full year of operation, Innergex calculated.

The company last year secured a USD-49.5-million non-recourse bridge loan for the San Andres BESS project, while the overall investment was estimated at around USD 61.9 million. According to Innergex, commissioning of the battery was completed below budget.

San Andres is Innergex’s second BESS project to start operation in Chile. It follows the 50-MW Salvador BESS, also a solar-plus-storage scheme, which was commissioned in October 2023.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.921)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!