ContourGlobal has commissioned the Quillagua solar plant in María Elena, Chile. The 221 MWp facility includes a 1.2 GWh battery system, enabling it to supply 200 MW for 6.2 hours after sunset. This marks the final step before full commercial operation begins, supporting a long-term clean energy contract to provide solar power at night and sell surplus energy to the market.
The company highlighted completing the project ahead of schedule.ContourGlobal emphasized the importance of long-duration batteries for grid stability and peak demand management.
In addition to the Quillagua plant, the company is developing the Victor Jara plant in Tarapacá, offering 231 MWp of solar power and 1.3 GWh of storage, expected to launch ahead of schedule. Together, the projects total 452 MWp of solar capacity and 2.5 GWh of battery storage, producing around 1,300 GWh annually.
This marks ContourGlobal’s entry into Chile’s market, with plans to expand and diversify into wind energy.The Quillagua plant’s inauguration highlights Chile’s leadership in combining solar energy from the Atacama Desert with long-duration battery storage, advancing the region’s energy transition.
According to ContourGlobal, solar-plus-storage is now more competitive than other energy sources. The project reflects global trends, with battery storage reaching 70 GW in 2024 per the IEA. Construction involved over 452,000 solar panels and created nearly 20 permanent jobs for ongoing operations.
