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AES Andes, the Chilean electricity generator, has secured the environmental permit for its Cristales photovoltaic project, set to generate up to 340 MW, alongside an energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of up to 542 MW for 5 hours. The project will be located in the commune of Antofagasta, approximately 220 km from the regional capital. With an estimated investment of up to 710 million dollars, the project will also entail the construction of an electrical substation (S/E Cristales) and a 220 kV high voltage transmission line for evacuating the generated energy. Construction work is slated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024, with commercial operation scheduled for 2028. Javier Dib, the executive director of AES Andes, emphasized the significance of such projects, stating that they enable the company to “inject the energy produced during the day at night, thus avoiding dumping or wasting renewable energy.” In Chile, AES Andes claims ownership and operation of 3,739 MW of energy capacity, comprising 1,921 MW thermoelectric, 771 MW hydroelectric, 370 MW wind, 442 MW solar photovoltaic, and 236 MW of battery energy storage systems, alongside water desalination plants and transmission lines. |
