The opportunities for battery energy storage systems are growing rapidly in Latin America. Below are some key details for those who want to understand and succeed in the BESS market. In 2010, the IEA projected that the world would reach its 2019 solar penetration only in 2035. Analysts underestimated solar adoption by 16 years.
As of now, Colombia’s reliability charge (Cargo por Confiabilidad) has encouraged hybrid solar + BESS projects to progress. Large energy companies have expressed that there are no Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) available specifically for stand-alone storage projects, making it harder to finance those projects.
Chile passed an energy storage and electromobility bill in late 2022, making stand-alone storage projects profitable for operators. However, the market is still awaiting new rules regarding a capacity payment for storage projects—expected in 2024.
The reality is that it could be closer to 50% per annum. While the U.S. was expected to have nearly 60 GWh of installed battery capacity by the end of 2023, AMI estimates that Latin America had less than 1 GWH of operational BESS projects—a 60x difference.
In 2024, the Brazilian government said that they would include batteries in their power reserve auction (“ Leilão de reserva de capacidade”), allowing batteries to be paid a fee for providing extra capacity during peak hours.