Colombian utility Celsia SA announced that the country's first solar energy storage system, using a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, will soon be operational at its 9.9-MW solar farm in Valle del Cauca.
The 1-MW battery energy storage system (BESS), with a 2 MWh capacity, will store excess solar power generated by the Celsia Solar Palmira 2 plant and supply it to either the end user or the national grid during nighttime.
Housed in a 20-foot, 28-tonne container, the BESS contains over 120 battery packs. This project marks the first time in Colombia that a non-conventional renewable energy plant is paired with a storage system.
The Palmira 2 solar farm is Celsia's 20th in the country, bringing the company's total solar capacity to 352 MWp. Celsia CEO Ricardo Sierra described the project as a breakthrough for overcoming solar intermittency, highlighting that the combination of solar panels and battery storage could supply up to 50% of the energy needs for some companies.
“This innovation allows us to continue making progress in diversifying our energy mix,” Sierra stated, emphasizing the importance of reducing reliance on hydroelectric generation, which is affected by climatic phenomena like El Niño.
