AES Chile has officially begun operations at its Andes Solar III plant in the Antofagasta Region, cementing its Andes Solar Hub as the largest complex of its kind in Latin America, according to latercera.com.
The new photovoltaic project represents an individual investment of over $300 million. The infrastructure has a generation capacity of 171 MW and includes a 171 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) with three hours of autonomy.
With this launch, total investment in the Andes Solar Hub now exceeds $1.3 billion. According to a company statement, the energy produced by this complex is equivalent to the consumption of approximately 800,000 households nationwide.
Expanding Renewable Capacity
Javier Dib, CEO of AES Andes, highlighted that the company is currently working on constructing more than 2,000 MW of capacity, which is expected to enter commercial operation between 2026 and 2027. "This serves as a clear signal of AES's confidence in Chile as a solid and competitive platform for continued investment in renewable energy," the executive stated.
The hub's infrastructure also strengthens the electrical transmission grid. The Andes substation serves as a strategic point in the north of the country and acts as a connection for the InterAndes international transmission line, which links Chile and Argentina.
Currently, AES Andes manages 5,717 MW across South America, with 3,945 MW operating within Chilean territory. The company's Chilean portfolio includes 1,009 MW of solar photovoltaic energy, 771 MW of hydroelectric power, 435 MW of wind energy, and 622 MW of battery storage systems.
