NMC battery storage project financing options in Chile 2030

Will capacity payments be applicable to energy storage systems in Chile?

Pursuant to Law 21,505, the Chilean Ministry of Energy has proposed to amend the regulations on capacity payments to allow for those payments to be applicable to energy storage systems.

Are battery energy storage systems a viable alternative for Chilean power producers?

With transmission lines at overcapacity and permitting delays slowing the development of new grid infrastructure, battery energy storage systems (BESS) have surged as a profitable alternative for Chilean power producers.

How much does a battery cost in Chile?

In fact, batteries charged at nearly $0/MWh during the day in the sunny, northern desert regions of Chile, sell energy at night for over $100/MWh. Although projects such as Engie’s BESS Coya are already enjoying these large spreads, this capacity payment will partially de-risk Chile’s dependence on volatile, but still profitable, merchant revenues.

Why are project finance transactions increasing in Chile?

Fitch Ratings-Sao Paulo/New York-01 April 2025: Project finance transactions in Chile are expected to increase due to the recent commissioning of large battery energy storage systems (BESS), Fitch Ratings says. This should balance electricity supply and demand while reducing price volatility for renewable energy generators.

How much battery storage does Chile have?

Chile has an operational installed capacity of approximately 1GW in batteries, and another 3GW is under construction. Battery storage has been largely financed by bank lending in recent years, but we believe larger projects could increase the scope for bond financing.

Will new solar assets in Chile have storage components?

New utility-scale renewable and PMGE assets in Chile (most of which are distributed solar plants smaller than 9 MW) will likely all have storage components moving forward.