Zelestra secures 220MW/1GWh solar-plus-storage PPA in Chile

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Zelestra and Abastible  sign a solar-plus-storage power purchase agreement in Chile
This is the second solar-plus-storage PPA in Chile for Abastible in the past month. Image: Zelestra.

Spanish renewables developer Zelestra has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with gas provider Abastible for a solar-plus-storage plant in Chile.

Located in the northern region of Tarapacá, the hybrid plant has already started construction and will have 220MW of solar capacity and 1GWh of battery energy storage system (BESS).

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

According to Zelestra, the hybridised solution will provide Abastible with night-time power and increase the company’s carbon-free energy portfolio.

This is the second solar-plus-storage PPA signed by Abastible in over a month. In February, the company signed a 15-year PPA with independent power producer (IPP) Verano Energy for an 83MW solar PV and 660MWh BESS project, which is expected to be operational at the end of 2026.

Zelestra is present in several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. In the region, the company has a development pipeline of 7GW comprising 56 projects.

Co-locating solar with BESS in Chile

Chile has seen a surge in co-located BESS and solar PV projects, either operational or in construction, as the country faces an increase in curtailment and transmission issues. Chilean solar PV and wind saw nearly 6TWh of capacity curtailed in 2024, according to trade body the Chilean renewable energy and energy storage association (ACERA).

Because of these ongoing issues and a reduction of revenue for solar PV assets, co-locating BESS capacity with a solar asset has become an “absolute necessity” in Chile, as Alejandro McDonough, managing director at Wärtsilä Chile, told PV Tech Premium last year.

Moreover, Chile, along with Brazil, will be the main drivers for solar PV additions in South America in the coming years, according to a recent report from Wood Mackenzie. Wood Mackenzie forecasts 160GW of new solar PV capacity by 2034 in South America, of which 78% will come from Chile and Brazil.

However, some uncertainties, especially on the financial side, still need to be solved for BESS to soar fully in Chile and the broader region, with many countries lacking regulation and policy for BESS to grow in Latin America and in the Caribbean, as covered by our sister-site Energy-Storage.News.

Read Next

September 2, 2025
Spanish construction firm GES (Global Energy Services) has secured a contract to build a roughly 700MW solar-wind-storage hybrid project in Chile.
September 2, 2025
Scatec has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with BTG Pactual Comercializadora de Energia to develop a 130MW solar project in Colombia.
September 2, 2025
Spanish independent power producer (IPP) Grenergy has sold the fourth phase of its flagship solar-plus-storage project in Chile, Oasis de Atacama.
September 1, 2025
California's solar and storage association has called for US$10 million fines for PG&E and SCE for failing to approve residential solar and storage projects applications quickly.
August 31, 2025
Renewables developer and independent power producer (IPP) TagEnergy has acquired Australian developer ACE Power, adding 6GW of renewable energy and storage projects to its portfolio.
August 29, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Verano Energy has closed a US$204 financing for a 83MW/660MWh solar-plus-storage project in Chile.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines