Chile's D'E Capital's Catemito Battery Energy Storage Project Receives Environmental Approval, Scheduled for Operation in 2028

Chilean energy investment and development company D'E Capital announced that the Catemito battery energy storage system project, located in San Bernardo City, has obtained environmental approval. The project, with a capacity of 50 MW and 200 MWh, involves an estimated investment of $33 million and aims to enhance the flexibility of the national power grid. According to the report from the National Electricity Coordinator, the project was submitted by Solar Uno, with a connection point at the new D20 zone of the 23 kV S/E Las Acacias substation. Construction is scheduled to commence by February 2027, with operations set to begin in March 2028.

The battery energy storage system will operate independently, not directly linked to power plants. It is situated in a major electricity consumption area to position storage capacity close to high-demand zones. D'E Capital stated that the system will inject power during peak hours, providing ancillary services such as frequency control, backup, and synthetic inertia, while also facilitating the integration of solar and wind power generation. However, the Coordinator's report notes that the project may face injection limitations or operational restrictions due to network congestion. The connection process does not require network expansion or reinforcement, only the execution of related engineering works.

Regarding connection conditions, Solar Uno must meet technical standards and pay a connection fee of approximately $33,000 to the Metropolitan Transmission Company. This battery energy storage project is a key initiative for Chile in promoting renewable energy development, contributing to the optimization of power system stability and efficiency.