AES Gener is moving forward with the Virtual Dam project, which is being built next to the 178-MW Alfalfal I hydropower plant in the San Jose de Maipo district of the Metropolitan Region in Chile.
The company recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project, according to BNamericas. The Virtual Dam project integrates battery systems for energy storage to run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plants.
Virtual Dam will provide a capacity of 10 MW for five hours.
“AES Generfaeqbeyvacduuarstractx leads the process of decarbonization of the Chilean energy matrix and today, with Virtual Dam, reaffirms its commitment to accelerate a more secure and sustainable energy future,” said Ricardo Falu, general manager of AES Gener. “This technological development … is the first energy storage system for run-of-river power stations worldwide, and will surely mark a milestone: it will be the first energy reservoir, not water.”
Construction of this project is expected to strengthen the national electricity system, allowing the storage of energy to supply it at times of greatest demand and expanding the penetration of variable renewable energy.
