Spain's Uriel gets enviro nod for USD-85m solar, BESS project in Chile

Spanish renewables developer Uriel Renovables has secured an environmental permit for an USD-85-million (EUR 78.2m) solar and battery storage project it seeks to set up in Chile’s Valparaiso region, the firm announced on Tuesday.

The proposed Quinquimo Solar plant, with a total capacity of 90 MW and an injection capacity of 65 MW, will be collocated with a battery energy storage system (BESS) of 50 MW/200 MWh.

Uriel plans to build the facilities on a 150-hectare (370.7 acres) site located 150 km (93.2 miles) north of Santiago de Chile. According to the company, it is an ideal location for a solar farm due to high solar radiation and proximity to consumption centres, conditions that will stabilise the spot prices compared to other areas of the country.

Uriel still has further permits to obtain to move Quinquimo Solar forward. Additional steps include closing of easements for the power lines leading from the solar farm to the Quinquimo substation and securing project financing.

The Spanish company expects to break ground on the project in 2025 and start feeding solar power into the grid by the end of 2026.

Quinquimo Solar is one of four solar projects that Uriel is promoting in Chile through its local unit Uriel Renovables Chile. The remaining three projects -- the 90-MWac Ritoque Solar, the 50-MWac Cabildo Solar and the 105-MWac Casas Viejas Solar -- are also based in Valparaiso. Uriel expects to successfully complete the environmental assessment process for these projects and obtain the corresponding permits in the first quarter of 2025.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.920)

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