Chile’s Environmental Impact Assessment System has approved Orion Power’s Remanso battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the municipality of Rancagua, Cachapoal province, in the Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins region.

The $165 million, 4.9 ha, 150 MW/750 MWh BESS will comprise 160 lithium-ion battery containers across 40 transformer stations. The transformers will house the equipment needed to raise the voltage to connect to a 23 kV to 154 kV step-up substation.

Connection to Chile’s National Electric System will be via a 65 m high-voltage line to the Punta Cortés substation and the site will benefit the nation’s central-southern region with the project near Rancagua’s main energy demand centers.

The environmental documents submitted by Chilean developer Orion indicate the site will have a 10-month construction phase, 30 years of operation, and a 10-month decommissioning stage. The BESS is set to create up to 60 construction jobs and five to 10 positions when operational.

The infrastructure necessary at the site includes monitoring, control, protection, fire detection, and air conditioning systems in each battery container.