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Chile Achieves Impressive Growth in Battery Storage Capacity
Chile has seen a significant increase in its operational battery energy storage capacity, growing by 124% in a single year. This expansion is primarily fueled by systems integrated with solar photovoltaic installations. The contribution of battery storage to the electricity grid has also risen sharply, supporting the integration of renewable energy sources.
Chile has experienced remarkable growth in battery energy storage over the past year. According to recent data from the Chilean Renewable Energy and Storage Association (ACERA), operational energy storage capacity increased by 124.3% in September 2026 compared to September 2025. The total operational capacity reached 13,555 MWh, with a power capacity of 3,125 MW.
A significant portion of this operational capacity is linked to solar photovoltaic installations, accounting for 10,521 MWh and 2,375 MW. This represents 77.6% of the total operational energy storage capacity. Additionally, standalone battery storage systems contributed 2,640 MWh (618 MW), while systems connected to wind farms and hydropower plants accounted for 145 MWh (73 MW) and 249 MWh (60 MW) respectively.
The pipeline for future projects is also extensive. ACERA reports that 13,735 MWh (3,017 MW) of battery storage is currently in the testing phase, with the majority consisting of hybrid solar-plus-storage systems (10,550 MWh / 2,222 MW). Furthermore, 22,123 MWh (5,130 MW) is under construction, featuring an average storage duration of 4.3 hours. Solar-linked systems again represent the largest share, comprising 76% of the power capacity under construction. There are also 19,972 MW of approved BESS projects and 8,716 MW undergoing environmental assessment.
The increased storage capacity has a direct impact on the electricity grid. In September 2026, battery storage systems injected 584 GWh into the grid, equivalent to 7.9% of the total generation and marking a 216.3% increase year-on-year. This development contributes to grid stability and helps reduce the curtailment of renewable energy sources. Between January and September 2026, solar and wind curtailment decreased by 4.6% compared to the same period last year, totaling 3,546 GWh.
These figures highlight Chile's leading role in integrating battery storage to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. The information for this article is sourced from ESS News.
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