Chile’s renewable curtailment hit 6,205 GWh in 2025, with BESS helping cap the increase

Broker & Trader Energy Chile estimates renewable curtailment totalled 6,205 GWh in 2025 (-0.3% vs 2024). Battery storage (BESS) delivered ~2 TWh and cut potential curtailment by ~24%.

Renewable energy curtailment in Chile’s power system — affecting mainly solar, wind and hydro generation — totalled 6,205 GWh in 2025, down 0.3% from 2024, according to a monthly report by Broker & Trader Energy Chile. The consultancy attributed the slight decline to the growing operational role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the National Electric System.

Storage impact: 2 TWh that kept curtailment from rising further

The report estimates that BESS delivered roughly 2 TWh (2,000 GWh) during 2025. Without that contribution, annual renewable curtailment could have climbed to around 8,200 GWh, implying a gap of about 2,000 GWh between the “with-storage” and “no-storage” scenarios.

Broker & Trader Energy Chile argues this difference represents a 24% reduction in the curtailment that the system might have experienced in 2025 if battery storage had not entered operation.

Curtailment still far above 2023 levels

Despite the buffering effect of storage, the consultancy noted that 2025’s curtailment figure is 133% higher than in 2023, highlighting the structural challenge Chile faces as renewable capacity grows faster than the system’s ability to absorb, shift, or transmit energy during peak generation hours.

Regional breakdown: Antofagasta leads

Curtailment remained heavily concentrated in northern Chile, the report said:

• Antofagasta: 48.3% of 2025 curtailment
• Atacama: 28.4%
• Coquimbo: 8.0%
• Biobío: 5.1%

Why it matters

The findings underscore that battery storage is already reducing renewable energy losses by shifting energy across hours and providing flexibility — but curtailment remains a persistent issue that will likely require a combination of more storage, grid/transmission upgrades, and greater operational flexibility as Chile’s renewable buildout continues.