AES Andes SA announced the commencement of commercial operations for its Andes Solar IV power complex, which features 211 MW of photovoltaic panels and a 130-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) located in the Atacama Desert within the Chilean region of Antofagasta. The announcement was made on Tuesday.
This facility is part of AES Andes' broader regional renewables hub, which currently includes a total of 667 MW of solar capacity and 259 MW of installed BESS.
AES Andes CEO Javier Dib emphasized the significance of this milestone, stating, “The entry into commercial operation of Andes Solar IV is a source of pride for the company and demonstrates that we continue to be the undisputed leaders in battery-based storage systems.”
As previously reported, AES Andes is committed to significant investments in energy storage, aiming to achieve over 1,600 MW of operational storage capacity by 2027, with an additional 2,400 MW expected by 2030.
In recent weeks, the company has taken concrete steps toward this goal, submitting three solar-plus-storage projects for environmental permitting. If approved, these projects would contribute over 1,700 MW of solar capacity and more than 2,400 MW of battery storage to Chile's electrical grid.
