BYD to supply 1.1 GWh of batteries for 'world's largest' BESS project in Chile

Spanish RE developer Grenergy Renovables, which is developing its flagship BESS project 'Oasis de Atacama' in Chile, has signed recently a supply agreement with the Chinese battery major BYD for battery energy storage systems for what is claimed as the world's largest battery storage project. 

With 1 GW of solar PV and 4.1 GWh of energy storage capacities, the project is expected to come on stream in multiple phases, helping to improve grid stability and decarbonize the power sector in the country. A clear timeline for attaining its full capacity is not announced yet. 

"The agreement with a leading company like BYD demonstrates our firm commitment to energy storage and represents a major step forward in securing the supply needed to be able to develop and build the battery projects we have recently announced," said David Ruiz de Andres, CEO of Grenergy. 

As per the agreement, BYD will supply 2,136 MC Cube ESS units meant to deployed in the first and second phases of the project slated for operation in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

The 'Oasis de Atacama' project marks the start of Grenergy investment plans for energy storage in global markets. The company has announced a global investment of €2.6 billion until 2026, including an €800 million strategic commitment to boost battery storage, targeting 4.1 GWh of storage portfolio in total.

Independent power producers (IPP) like Grenergy are finding the Chilean market viable for adding storage capacities to existing and upcoming solar PV projects, thanks to the intermittency in solar energy generation in the country.