Zelestra has achieved financial close on its Aurora hybrid project in Chile through a $282 million financing package. The arrangement includes support from Natixis CIB and BNP Paribas, along with a VAT facility provided by Chilean bank BCI, the company announced.
The Aurora project, located in Tarapacá, consists of a 220 MWdc solar photovoltaic plant integrated with around 1 GWh of battery storage capacity. Once completed, it is expected to produce approximately 600 GWh of renewable electricity annually — enough to power 200,000 Chilean households. According to Zelestra, this makes Aurora one of the largest energy storage schemes in Latin America.
The electricity generated by the project will be supplied to Abastible, one of Chile’s leading energy companies, through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). Notably, the deal includes guaranteed nighttime delivery of solar energy thanks to the project’s storage capability.
“Aurora is a landmark transaction for Zelestra and reinforces the financial community’s confidence in our customer-first strategy to develop multi-technology solutions that deliver for our clients,” said Leo Moreno, CEO of Zelestra. “This is a very ambitious project that includes one of the largest battery storage projects in Latin America. With construction already underway, we are now focused on delivering the project on time and on budget.”
The project is being delivered by Zelestra’s internal engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) division. The company said the Aurora scheme reflects its broader approach to pairing solar generation with large-scale battery storage to improve grid reliability and support decarbonization efforts in key markets.
