Engie begins commercial operation of two Chile BESS projects
Multinational power firm Engie has announced the start of commercial operation of the Libélula and Los Loros energy storage projects on the National Electric System in Chile.
Announced 28 August, the battery energy storage system (BESS) projects collectively add 251MW of storage to the System. Engie stated the implementation of both projects responds to the growing need for infrastructure that allows it to keep pace with the evolution of the National Electric System and contribute to an increasingly cleaner and more competitive energy mix.
Located in the municipalities of Colina and Tiltil, approximately 40 kilometers north of Santiago, solar PV-plus-BESS project Libélula is ENGIE Chile’s first energy project in the metropolitan region.
The complex represents a total investment of US$320 million, of which US$219 million corresponds to BESS. Currently, the BESS is in commercial operation, while the PV plant is 100% energised and progressing in its COD (Certificate of Deposit) process.
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The solar plant has a capacity of 140MW and features 245,560 solar panels. The BESS has a capacity of 203MW/1,034MWh, consisting of 208 lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery containers with a five-hour discharge autonomy. This is also ENGIE Chile’s first hybrid project designed from the outset to combine solar generation and energy storage in a single facility.
The project has a step-up substation and a 220kV transmission line approximately 16 kilometers long, connected to the El Manzano Substation.
Libélula also includes 2,311 NX Horizon low-carbon solar trackers, developed by solar PV solutions provider Nextpower and manufactured with steel produced using electric arc furnace technology.
Engie stated that their implementation reduces emissions associated with this equipment by approximately 30%, compared to conventional manufacturing methods.
Los Loros is located within the Los Loros Photovoltaic Park, also owned by Engie. The system represents a US$64 million investment and has a capacity of 48MW/275.23MWh.
Located in the municipality of Tierra Amarilla, Atacama Region, Los Loros consists of 63 lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery containers.
Engie announced the energisation of Los Loros on 24 March. The PV plant was developed by French developer Solardirect, which Engie acquired in 2015, ahead of the project’s commissioning in 2016.
Grenergy completes sale of solar-plus-storage project in Chile
IPP Grenergy has completed the sale of Gabriela, the fourth phase of Oasis de Atacama, its flagship energy storage project in Chile, to infrastructure investor CVC DIF.
Announced 2 September, Gabriela has 272MW of solar PV capacity and 1,100MWh of BESS. The project is now operational, marking the completion of the transaction, which was announced in September 2025. The transaction’s enterprise value amounted to US$475 million.
Construction of Gabriela was financed through a US$324 million green loan provided by BNP Paribas, Natixis, Société Générale, Scotiabank, SMBC, Bank of America, BBVA, JPMorgan, KfW IPEX, Rabobank and ICO.
Following completion of the transaction, Grenergy will continue to provide operation and maintenance (O&M) services for the assets for five years. The project is also backed by a 15-year hybrid power purchase agreement (PPA).
Together with the sale of the first phase of Oasis de Atacama to BESS owner-operator ContourGlobal in December 2024, this transaction represents approximately 25% of the overall Oasis de Atacama project, which has a total storage capacity of 14.1GWh. Combined, the two transactions represent an enterprise value of approximately US$1.5 billion.
In June, Grenergy held a ceremony to mark the completion of a 3.5GWh BESS, the sixth phase of the Oasis de Atacama complex. Chile’s president, José Antonio Kast Rist, was in attendance.
The same month, the IPP signed a 15-year 1TWh night-time PPA for the BESS. Grenergy also noted plans to expand the project to 7GWh.
Grenergy said the Gabriela transactions are part of its asset rotation strategy outlined in its 2026–28 Strategic Plan, which aims to generate €800 million (US$926.8 million) in asset rotation proceeds during this period.
In May, the Company revised its Strategic Plan, raising its investment target to US$4.28 billion through 2028. As part of this plan, Grenergy announced the expansion of its Oasis hybrid platforms in Chile and the introduction of Iberian Oasis in Spain, bringing its solar-plus-storage model to the Iberian market. Combined, the Oasis platforms will encompass 5GW of solar capacity and 22GWh of BESS.
Our publisher Solar Media, part of Informa Connect, will host the Energy Storage Summit Latin America 2026 on 26-27 October, 2026, in Santiago, Chile. Energy-Storage.news readers can use our discount code ESN20 at checkout for 20% off tickets.
