ContourGlobal has started construction of Los Maitenes, a hybrid solar and battery energy storage project in Chile’s O’Higgins region.
The project will combine a 131 MWp solar plant with a 90 MW/360 MWh BESS, providing four hours of storage duration.
The company said the project is expected to enter commercial operation by the end of 2027 and generate about 220 GWh of renewable electricity annually. Most of the output will be sold under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) covering both daytime and nighttime supply, with the remaining electricity marketed through Chile’s spot market.
Once completed, Los Maitenes will increase ContourGlobal’s Chilean portfolio to about 583 MWp of solar capacity and 490 MW of battery storage with 2.9 GWh of energy capacity. The company said its combined renewable generation and storage portfolio in Chile will exceed 1 GW.
The project joins ContourGlobal’s existing pipeline in Chile, including the 231 MWp Victor Jara solar project with a 200 MW/1.3 GWh BESS in the Tarapacá region, and the Quillagua I and II projects, which combine 221 MWp of solar with a 200 MW/1.2 GWh BESS in the Antofagasta region.
The company said Los Maitenes’ location near one of Chile’s main electricity demand centers will help reduce transmission constraints and renewable energy curtailment. The four-hour battery system will shift daytime solar generation to evening demand periods.
Chief Executive Officer Antonio Cammisecra said the project forms part of ContourGlobal’s strategy to develop large-scale hybrid renewable platforms under its “Sun at Night” model, which uses battery storage to deliver solar electricity during peak demand hours.
ContourGlobal said construction is expected to last about 15 months, with peak onsite employment reaching about 400 workers. Around 900 direct jobs are expected during construction, with total employment impacts exceeding 1,300 when indirect jobs are included. The company added that it is continuing community engagement activities with local stakeholders throughout the construction phase.
From pv magazine LatAm
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