Enel Chile begins commercial operations at new hybrid plant in the Metropiltan Region

Published on Monday, 23 December 2024

  • The Don Humberto project, located in the northern part of the Metropolitan Region, combines bifacial photovoltaic generation with an energy storage system.

 

Santiago, November 23, 2024 – Enel Chile, through its renewable energy development subsidiary Enel Green Power Chile, has opened the second industrial-scale hybrid renewable energy generation unit in the Metropolitan Region. Enel Chile’s new hybrid plant is set to begin operations after meeting all the requirements set by the National Electric Coordinator, which confirm the facilities’ reliability in terms of generation and safety for both the workers and nearby communities, as well as for the National Electric System.

“We are proud to continue contributing to the development of a more resilient and flexible national energy matrix, which allows for better management of energy demand during times when renewable generation is lower,” says Giuseppe Turchiarelli, CEO of Enel Chile. “We have implemented BESS systems with the potential to provide multiple security and stability services to the system. In this sense, we believe regulatory enablement is essential for this technology to participate in the provision of complementary services and reduce the systemic costs paid by users,” adds the top executive at Enel Chile.

With a net installed capacity of 81 MW for the solar section, Don Humberto will be able to generate around 188 GWh of 100% clean energy every year, which will be injected into the National Electric System (SEN). This will supply energy to nearly 80,000 Chilean households, while avoiding over 148,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year.

Additionally, with its an energy storage capacity (BESS) of 67 MW for two hours, Enel Chile's new industrial-scale hybrid plant will be able to manage around 43 GWh annually, enabling the supply of clean and renewable energy during peak consumption hours and when solar resources are low.