AES Andes Activates 146 MW BESS, Reaching 756 MW in Chile

AES Andes commenced commercial operations on August 3, 2026 for Bolero BESS, a battery energy storage system (BESS) rated at 146 MW / 438 MWh, located alongside the Bolero solar plant in the municipality of Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta region. The commissioning required an investment of approximately US$137 million, according to Diario Financiero.

Bolero BESS is paired with the 146 MW Bolero photovoltaic plant, which AES Andes acquired in 2023. The lithium-ion system stores energy generated during peak solar radiation hours and dispatches it during periods of highest demand, with a three-hour autonomy and an estimated annual output of 160 GWh, helping reduce renewable curtailment in northern Chile. With this milestone, the company reaches 756 MW of battery storage in Chile, one of the largest platforms of this technology in Latin America, according to pv magazine Latam. The dynamic carries regional significance: in Mexico, nodes with high solar penetration face saturation during peak generation hours, and co-located storage is one of the solutions the sector is actively weighing.

AES Andes CEO Javier Dib stated that the commissioning of Bolero BESS "reaffirms our conviction that storage is fundamental to advancing toward a more renewable, secure, and flexible energy mix." The company, which operates 3,945 MW in Chile, adds 146 MW of capacity to the National Electric System (SEN) and maintains four battery projects under development in the country's north:

- Arenales: standalone BESS of 300 MW / 900 MWh. - Cristales: 288 MW solar park with a 340 MW / 1,360 MWh BESS. - Pampas: hybrid project combining 229 MW solar, 128 MW wind, and a 340 MW / 1,360 MWh BESS. - Atacama BESS: 250 MW / 1,000 MWh system.

The projects under construction and announced development pipeline add 1,230 MW of additional capacity, and the company maintains 2,021 MW of renewable projects under construction across South America. Their progress is the next data point to watch for gauging how storage sustains solar capacity integration across the region.

This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.