Regional environmental commissions in Chile have approved two solar-plus-storage projects. Pampino, in the northern Tarapacá region, pairs 170 MW of solar capacity with 1,020 MWh of storage, while Monterrico Solar, in the Ñuble region, combines 248.73 MWp of solar with a 200 MW/1,200 MWh lithium-ion battery providing six hours of storage.
The two projects have a combined declared investment of $569 million. Both were developed by Zelestra, whose Latin American business was acquired by Colombian energy company Promigas in May.
The Tarapacá Environmental Evaluation Commission approved Pampino at its ordinary session. The project, held for permitting purposes by Pampino Solar, will be built in Pozo Almonte, in the province of Tamarugal.
According to its environmental impact declaration, Pampino has a declared investment of $263 million and will occupy 467 hectares. It will connect to Chile’s National Electric System (SEN) through two 1.5 km, 220 kV lines to a new PAM1 switching substation, which will section the existing Lagunas-Collahuasi transmission line.
Construction is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2028, and the project has an estimated operating life of 37.1 years. It is expected to employ an average of 600 people during construction, peaking at 800, and an average of seven during operation, with a maximum of 30. Pampino entered Chile’s environmental assessment process in September 2025.
The Ñuble Environmental Evaluation Commission approved Monterrico Solar at its ordinary session the same day. The project, held for permitting purposes by Unión Solar SpA, will be located in the municipalities of Coihueco and Chillán.
Monterrico Solar will have 248.73 MWp of installed solar capacity and 200 MW of nominal capacity, using 404,433 bifacial monocrystalline silicon modules rated at 615 Wp each. Electricity will be exported through a 12.3 km, 220 kV line energized at 154 kV to the Monterrico substation.
The project has a declared investment of $306 million. Construction is scheduled to begin on Dec. 1, 2026, with connection to the SEN expected in June 2028 and an estimated operating life of 35 years. It is expected to employ an average of 150 people during construction, peaking at 400, and an average of 10 during operation, with a maximum of 20. Zelestra submitted Monterrico Solar for environmental assessment in March 2025.
Zelestra completed the sale of its entire Latin American business to Promigas on May 28, 2026, in a transaction valued at about $1.1 billion. The deal covered operating, under-construction, and development assets in Chile, Peru, and Colombia, with a total portfolio of about 3.5 GW.
Promigas said the platform included 1,273 MW of projects in operation and under construction and about 2,250 MW in development, spanning solar and energy storage. The acquisition also marked the Colombian company’s entry into Chile.
From pv magazine LatAm
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