AES Installs First Energy Storage System in Chile

The project helps the system operator manage fluctuations in demand, delivering frequency regulation in a less expensive, more responsive and more accurate manner than traditional methods. In addition, because the project replaces unpaid reserve from the power plant, AES Gener will receive payment for its full output capacity by selling directly to the electric grid.

Andrés Gluski, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of AES, said, This project establishes AES Gener's leadership in this new technology in Latin America. In addition, it demonstrates how AES can leverage its global platform to develop new approaches that increase the efficiency of power generation and distribution.

Chris Shelton, President of AES Energy Storage, said, This approach to providing ancillary services and grid reserves lowers the cost and improves the performance of power systems. The project in Chile builds on the progress of our demonstration projects in the U.S. and in the longer-term, we believe that battery systems have the potential to support greater integration of renewable energy sources.

Robert Johnson, Vice President of the Energy Solutions Group for A123 Systems, stated, We believe that in addition to creating a more efficient power facility and electric grid in Chile today, A123's Hybrid-APU advanced capabilities can be extended to allow greater use of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. This project demonstrates the flexibility of our battery technology to provide a scalable solution for rapid deployment to the grid, utilizing the same core technology employed in hybrid and electric vehicle battery systems. We're pleased to be working with a partner like AES to innovate for the electric grid.

AES Energy Storage and A123 Systems developed the project at AES Gener with Parker Hannifin and ABB. Lithium for the batteries was supplied from the same region in Northern Chile where the system was installed. AES has been working with A123 Systems since 2008 to develop grid applications for regional transmission operators in order to improve the capacity, responsiveness, and efficiency of power systems.

This is AES Energy Storage's first project outside the U.S. and is also the first lithium-ion battery system to be deployed to the electric grid in Chile. In 2008 AES and another supplier deployed a 1 MW Ancillary Services unit to PJM to provide ancillary services. Earlier this year AES and A123 Systems installed a 2 MW Hybrid-APU™ at one of AES' Southern California power plants to help meet reserve requirements.