Chilean energy storage lithium battery manufacturer

Lithium Chile Inc. (TSX: LITH, OTCQB: LTMCF) is a Calgary-based mineral exploration company managing over 140,000 hectares in Chile and Argentina. Focused on its Arizaro Project, it develops high-quality lithium for electric vehicles and energy storage through sustainable methods and strategic partnerships.

With transmission lines at overcapacity and permitting delays slowing the development of new grid infrastructure, battery energy storage systems (BESS) have surged as a profitable alternative for Chilean power producers.

Lithium Chile's contribution to battery technology centers on the exploration and development of lithium-rich brine deposits. The company's Arizaro Project stands as its primary asset, containing 4,122,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.

In fact, batteries charged at nearly $0/MWh during the day in the sunny, northern desert regions of Chile, sell energy at night for over $100/MWh. Although projects such as Engie's BESS Coya are already enjoying these large spreads, this capacity payment will partially de-risk Chile's dependence on volatile, but still profitable, merchant revenues.

In March 2024, BESS Coya, the largest battery-based energy storage system in Latin America, started operations. The facility is located in the Antofagasta region and has a storage capacity of 638 MWh, with 139 MW of installed capacity. The project utilizes lithium-ion batteries and stores the energy generated by the 180-MW Coya photovoltaic plant.

In 2022, Chile passed an energy storage and electromobility bill, which made stand-alone storage projects profitable, but the market is still expecting new rules on capacity payment for storage projects, which are to be approved in 2024. Chile has also put in place an auction procedure to award public land for the development of BESS projects.