Congestion is no longer an isolated event

For much of the recent development of Chile's power system, congestion was understood as an occasional condition, limited to specific moments or locations. That interpretation is no longer sufficient.

The rapid expansion of renewable generation—particularly in northern Chile—has created a new reality: congestion is now a structural condition of the system. The result is transmission constraints, increasing curtailment of clean energy, significant differences in nodal prices, and greater uncertainty in project operations.

In this context, installed capacity alone is no longer a sufficient indicator of value. The same project can perform very differently depending on its ability to integrate into the system under real conditions. Location, grid connection, and operational flexibility become critical variables.

This shift in the power sector redefines how projects are developed. The focus is no longer solely on producing clean energy—it is on ensuring that energy can be effectively integrated into the system—something that ultimately determines economic performance.

To achieve this, the integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS) becomes strategically relevant, as this technology reduces curtailment, shifts energy to higher-value periods, and improves system responsiveness.

In other words, BESS transforms a constraint into a management opportunity. At the same time, it creates a competitive advantage by raising the standard: projects that do not incorporate these capabilities are more exposed in a system where congestion is no longer exceptional, but part of normal operations.