GlobalData
2 min read
Zelestra has entered an agreement with Sungrow, marking a milestone for one of the largest battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Latin America.
The collaboration is set to enhance the Aurora hybrid project in Tarapacá, Chile, with Sungrow providing its advanced PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled BESS and MV power conversion units.
The BESS project, with a storage capacity of approximately 1 gigawatt hour (GWh), is a key component of the Aurora scheme, which also features a 220 megawatts defined conditions (MWdc) solar plant equipped with Sungrow's 1+X Modular Inverter.
The initiative demonstrates Zelestra's capability to tailor multi-technology solutions, ensuring a reliable supply of solar energy to Abastible, a Chilean company, through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA).
Zelestra CEO Leo Moreno stated: “With this major agreement, we have secured some of the most advanced BESS technology available in the market to deliver one of the largest battery storage projects ever in Latin America. This is an important milestone for the Aurora project, as we advance towards the delivery of this highly customised hybrid solution that will meet the needs of our customer, Abastible.”
Construction at the Aurora site is progressing, with the project expected to generate around 600GWh of renewable electricity annually.
This output will meet the yearly energy needs of 200,000 Chilean households, significantly contributing to the nation's decarbonisation efforts.
The BESS units are scheduled for delivery from the fourth quarter of 2025.
Sungrow vice-chairman Jack Gu stated: “We are proud to partner with Zelestra on the landmark Aurora project, delivering our cutting-edge PowerTitan 2.0 energy storage solution as well as PV inverters to one of the most significant hybrid projects in Latin America.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to accelerating the energy transition in Chile and across the region, while ensuring a reliable, sustainable power supply for Chilean homes. Together, we are unlocking the full potential of solar and storage to build a greener future.”
Zelestra has also successfully secured financial closure for a portfolio of six solar PV projects in Spain, comprising the Belinchón and Brazatortas clusters.
The financial arrangement includes 21 PPAs and a senior debt package worth €146.6m in green financing for the construction phase.
BNP Paribas and Rabobank played pivotal roles as mandated lead arrangers, issuing banks and hedging providers, with BNP Paribas also acting as the green loan coordinator.
