BESS systems: the technology that helps free customers to optimize their electricity consumption

This press release was published in English using an automatic translation system

PRESS RELEASE from the Energy Platform
February 2025

Santiago, February 2025.-   Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have begun to consolidate within the Chilean electricity industry. According to figures from the Chilean Association of Renewable Energies and Storage (ACERA), the installed capacity of these projects reached 3 GW, considering the initiatives that are in operation, in the testing phase and under construction, in addition to 19 GW in environmental assessment.

Although BESS systems are dynamic in the generation segment, their use is not limited to that sector alone. Plataforma Energía's Development and New Business Manager, Luigi Sciaccaluga, says that free customers can also use this technology to optimize their electricity consumption at an industrial level.

“The use of batteries is becoming more widespread in the country, thanks to a new regulatory framework that provides greater certainty for their implementation and to lower costs, driven by technological development and the decrease in the price of lithium,” says the executive.

BESS are systems made up of highly efficient and reliable batteries that store electricity and make it available when needed. This way, companies can charge energy at times of low prices or demand and discharge it when the situation is the opposite.

“In a country with such a large price differential between daytime and peak hours, batteries make it possible to take advantage of the low price of energy and avoid consuming the grid during peak hours. This process is particularly beneficial for companies that cannot disconnect from the grid, either because they have continuous shifts or because their processes are intensified during peak hours,” says Sciaccaluga.

In this way, BESS systems allow companies to manage their peak hours without having to stop operations. They also avoid the need for backup diesel generators, which are subject to oil price volatility and are highly polluting.

“A battery system improves the carbon footprint, as it allows the company to stop using the generator sets to continue its operational flow. Then, you can mitigate the environmental impact from the point of view of the equivalent CO2, but also from the local emissions of the plant and the noise of the generators. This is tremendously favourable for companies with regard to their sustainability policies,” says the expert from Plataforma Energía.

Another advantage offered by BESS systems relates to operational resilience. According to Sciaccaluga, batteries improve the company's ability to respond to fluctuations in energy supply and demand, as well as to possible power outages or instabilities in the electrical grid.

To implement a battery system at an industrial level, companies require an EMS ( Energy Management System ) that guarantees a smooth integration with their operations. In this way, the client will be able to monitor and manage the energy flow in real time. In addition, it is very positive to integrate the BESS into the Energy Management System (ISO 50.001 or other) and to include cybersecurity measures to protect against possible cyber attacks.

“The implementation of a battery system involves certain technical complexities, as a diagnosis is required to assess its suitability. In this regard, it is recommended that interested companies turn to experts in the structuring of enabling supply contracts so that they have comprehensive support in the bidding process and obtain the most competitive prices on the market,” says Sciaccaluga.

About Energy Platform

Plataforma Energía is a company specialized in energy consulting, which owns the first and largest Marketplace in Chile, www.plataformaenergia.com , dedicated mainly to energy transactions between independent clients of all types and between suppliers. The platform aims to bring consumers and suppliers together, ensuring competitive prices in all its tenders and advanced risk management. The company, founded in 2016, has an active presence in Chile and Peru.