Professionals visited the Diego de Almagro Sur II BESS project (228 MW) to learn about the development of battery systems and advanced technologies for grid stability.
Professionals visited the Diego de Almagro Sur II BESS project (228 MW) to learn about the development of battery systems and advanced technologies for grid stability.
Chile, May 2026. As part of a technical visit aimed at strengthening knowledge exchange in the field of energy storage, SMA, e-STORAGE, and Colbún hosted a Brazilian delegation in Chile, comprising representatives from the National Electric System Operator (ONS) and the energy company Eneva.
The goal of the visit was to gain firsthand knowledge of Chile's experience in the development and operation of battery energy storage systems (BESS), as well as the use of advanced technologies such as Grid Forming, which are fundamental for the stability of electrical systems with a high penetration of variable renewable energies.
The agenda began in Santiago with a technical meeting at Colbún's offices, followed by a meeting with the National Electric Coordinator, where the main challenges of the Chilean electrical system regarding the integration of renewable energy and storage were addressed. During the meeting, both operators shared experiences and lessons learned in the context of the global energy transition.
Subsequently, the delegation traveled to the Atacama Region to visit the Diego de Almagro Sur II BESS project, one of the most relevant storage initiatives in the country. It was developed by Colbún and supplied and implemented by e-STORAGE, the BESS subsidiary of Canadian Solar. The project features cutting-edge technology from SMA, including Medium Voltage Power Stations (MVPS) with integrated Sunny Central UPS inverters, transformers, and medium-voltage equipment.
The Diego de Almagro Sur II BESS project will use e-STORAGE's SolBank 3.0 solution, based on lithium iron phosphate battery technology. The system incorporates an active balancing battery management system and an advanced liquid cooling architecture, designed to operate with high performance, safety, and long-term reliability. e-STORAGE is responsible for the delivery of the fully integrated BESS solution and the Long-Term Service Agreement (LTSA) for Colbún.
The BESS system has a power output of 228 MW and a storage capacity of 912 MWh, allowing it to store surplus solar energy during the day and dispatch it during peak demand periods. The infrastructure also includes 67 Sunny Central Storage 4400 UPS inverters with SiC MOSFET technology, integrated into medium-voltage stations and connected to the Inca de Oro substation, with the capacity to supply the equivalent consumption of over 55,000 homes.
Among the functionalities offered by SMA's solution are the provision of inertia and grid strengthening, which contribute to the stability of the electrical system, ensuring a reliable supply in the event of contingencies and increasing grid resilience, alongside a market-leading efficiency of up to 99.45%.
The supply also includes a plant control system developed specifically for large-scale storage projects, based on the SMA Power Plant Manager, which allows for safe, flexible, and optimized operation.
During the visit, the Brazilian representatives were able to directly observe the operation of this technology, as well as Chile's progress in implementing solutions that allow for the efficient management of variable renewable energies.
"Chile has positioned itself as a natural laboratory for the large-scale integration of renewable energies, and today storage is a key enabler for advancing towards more flexible and resilient electrical systems. At SMA, we are contributing technological solutions that not only store energy but also provide stability to the grid through capabilities such as Grid Forming," noted Fernando Zurita, Business Development.
For his part, César Novoa, Solar and Battery Project Manager at Colbún, highlighted:
"This type of infrastructure is essential to continue advancing the energy transition, as it allows renewable energy to be stored and delivered when it is most needed. In this way, we strengthen a matrix that is more flexible, efficient, and prepared for the challenges of the future."
The visit takes place within a regional context where energy storage is emerging as a key element to accelerate the energy transition, allowing for the integration of higher volumes of renewable energies and ensuring the stability of electrical systems.
