AES Andes completes decade-long development of 692 MW solar, 510 MW storage complex in Atacama

The Hub Andes Solar complex consolidates 692 MW of photovoltaic generation capacity with 510 MW of battery energy storage systems across 1,181 hectares of state-owned land in Chile’s Atacama Desert, approximately 2,800 meters above sea level. The facility reached its current configuration in April 2026 when Andes Solar III began commercial operations, adding 171 MW of solar capacity and a 171 MW BESS with three-hour duration equivalent to 513 MWh. The inauguration ceremony on August 13 formalized the completion of a phased development that included Andes Solar I, Andes Solar IIb with 180 MW solar and 112 MW storage supplied by Fluence, and Andes Solar IV with approximately 211 MW solar and 130 MW/650 MWh storage. The Ministry of National Assets granted six onerous concessions to enable the project on fiscal territory.

The complex generates electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 800,000 Chilean households. Its battery systems store excess solar production during peak radiation hours for discharge during evening demand peaks, addressing one of the primary operational challenges in high-renewable grids. This capability carries particular significance for northern Chile’s mining sector, which requires continuous 24-hour electricity supply with high reliability standards while transitioning toward renewable procurement contracts.

AES Andes now operates 4,079 MW across Chile, including over 1,000 MW of solar generation and 756 MW of battery storage capacity. The company maintains an additional 1,875 MW of renewable projects under construction. The Hub connects to the Andes Substation, a strategic transmission node in northern Chile and the connection point for InterAndes, the sole active international electricity transmission line between Chile and Argentina.

Chile’s renewable transformation accelerated significantly in 2025, with solar and wind generation representing approximately 38 percent of total electricity injected into the system according to the National Electric Coordinator. Battery storage capacity nearly tripled within one year, expanding from 1.2 GW to 3.2 GW nationally. The Ministry of National Assets reports that 9,595 MW of Chile’s 27,100 MW installed renewable capacity occupies state-owned land, with plans to auction approximately 32 additional fiscal properties in the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions for new investment projects. Currently, 243 active onerous concessions exist in Chile, with 97.5 percent concentrated in the northern macrozone. Energy Minister Ximena Rincón characterized energy infrastructure as an enabling factor rather than merely a component of productive development.