AES Andes Inaugurates 692 MW Solar and 510 MW Battery Hub

On August 13, 2026, AES Andes inaugurated the Hub Andes Solar, a complex with 692 MW of photovoltaic solar capacity and 510 MW of battery storage in the Antofagasta Region, according to Diario Financiero. The project's cumulative investment exceeds US$1,300 million.

The project was built in phases starting in 2016, when Andes Solar I began operations, and its final addition, Andes Solar III, entered commercial operation in April 2026, according to Revista Electricidad. The complex sits at 2,800 meters above sea level in the Atacama Desert, one of the world's highest solar irradiance zones; the batteries store energy during peak production hours and inject electricity when the system requires it. This role firms up solar generation and adds flexibility to Chile's National Electric System (SEN). The hub connects to the Andes Substation, a northern Chile transmission node and the interconnection point for InterAndes, the only international transmission line between Chile and Argentina.

The installed capacity is equivalent to the annual consumption of roughly 800,000 households, according to AES Chile. AES Andes describes the complex as the largest of its kind in Latin America; Andes Solar III, the final phase, adds 171 MW of photovoltaic capacity and 171 MW of batteries with three hours of storage duration. Chile's Energy Minister Ximena Rincón and National Assets Minister Catalina Parot participated in the inauguration ceremony. BNamericas reports that the company has added 2,780 MW of renewable capacity in Chile since 2019, including 1,100 MW of solar and 716 MW of storage, and has the Arenales (300 MW) and Atacama (250 MW) battery projects under construction. With those projects currently underway, the company will exceed 5,900 MW of capacity in Chile, 81% of which will be renewable, according to Diario Financiero.

This milestone illustrates the role of battery storage in firming up world-class solar generation and sets a benchmark for the solar-plus-battery hybrid projects gaining momentum in Mexico and the broader region. The figure to watch: more than 2,000 MW that AES Andes has under construction in Chile, with commissioning expected between 2026 and 2027.

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