AES Andes achieved a new milestone in its Greentegra strategy by obtaining environmental approval for its Cristales photovoltaic project of up to 340 MW and an energy storage system (BESS) of up to 542 MW for 5 hours.
The initiative, located in the commune of Antofagasta, approximately 220 km east of the regional capital, was approved unanimously by the members of the Environmental Evaluation Commission.
“The approval of this project allows us to continue accelerating the future of Chile's energy through new renewable projects, reinforcing AES's leadership in the sustainable energy transition process,” highlighted Javier Dib, CEO of AES Andes.
The executive added that “for the company, it is a pride to continue consolidating investments in innovative solutions, such as energy storage systems, which allow us to inject the energy produced during the day at night, thus avoiding spills or waste of renewable energies.”
The project, which involves an investment of up to US$ 710 million, also includes an electrical substation (Cristales S/E) and a 220 kV high-voltage transmission line to evacuate the generated energy.
Construction works are estimated to begin during the fourth quarter of 2024, with commercial operation expected to start in 2028.
