Verano Energy has secured environmental approval for its Catalina del Verano solar-plus-storage project in Chile’s O’Higgins region, following technical adjustments and an increase in the planned solar capacity to 60MWac / 9.77MWdc.
According to the company’s permit filing, the decision will enable an estimated $40m investment in a solar farm with a 360MWh BESS.
The project site, in the rural area of the Rancagua commune, will feature 107,800 solar panels and 72 BESS containers. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2028.
Verano Energy’s original proposal outlined a 41MWac solar farm with battery storage, using fewer and less powerful panels and a smaller number of transformer stations.
The modifications, made during the environmental impact assessment, will not result in additional waste, change vehicle traffic patterns, or alter existing contingency and emergency plans, according to the permitting authorities.
In a LinkedIn post following the approval, Verano Energy stated that Catalina del Verano reinforces its “commitment to projects that bring greater flexibility and stability to the power grid.”
“This milestone consolidates the growth of our portfolio in the country and reaffirms Verano Energy’s commitment to a more resilient, clean, and efficient energy matrix,” the company added.
The Catalina del Verano project adds to a growing portfolio of renewable energy developments in Chile, where the government is working to expand clean energy capacity and strengthen grid resilience.
The inclusion of large-scale storage is expected to help manage intermittency and improve energy supply reliability, aligning with national decarbonisation targets.
