The global low-carbon transformation process of mining continues to accelerate, and empowering high energy consuming mines with new energy has become the mainstream trend in the industry. Recently, Sunac Power has partnered with global mining leader BHP Billiton to establish a long-term strategic partnership. The two sides will jointly implement the integrated solar energy storage project in two major mining areas in Chile, with a total energy storage capacity of 960MWh, to help large overseas mines achieve clean electricity substitution and promote green and low-carbon upgrading of heavy industry.

Double mining area landing

According to the cooperation agreement signed by both parties, the integrated solar energy storage project will be implemented in two core mining areas, the Escondida copper mine and the Spence copper mine in Chile. The Escondida copper mine has the world's largest copper mine volume and plans to build a 110MW photovoltaic power station with a 110MW/540MWh energy storage system; Spence Copper Mine will build a new 85MW photovoltaic power station, which will be accompanied by 85MW/420MWh energy storage equipment.

After calculation, the total installed capacity of photovoltaics in the two mining areas can reach 195MW, with a total energy storage capacity of 960MWh. The project innovation adopts a nearby energy supply mode, directly building new energy generation and storage facilities on the mining power side to achieve precise adaptation between clean energy and mining production load. The project is planned to be officially connected to the grid and put into operation in the fiscal year 2029.

Complete solution output

In this cooperation, Sunac Power takes on the role of a core technology solution integrator, providing a one-stop complete optical storage solution for two major mining projects. In response to the harsh and extreme outdoor conditions of high altitude, sandstorms, and high dust concentration in Chilean mining areas, our products and systems have been specially optimized and upgraded to withstand complex outdoor environmental interference for a long time, ensuring stable and efficient operation of photovoltaic and energy storage systems around the clock, and meeting the strict electricity requirements for uninterrupted production in mines.

Deeply cultivating the Chilean market

This heavyweight cooperation with BHP Billiton is another milestone project for Sunac Power to deeply cultivate the Chilean new energy market. In the past year, the company has successively won multiple large-scale energy storage orders in the local area, and its market layout continues to deepen. At the end of May 2026, Sunac Power signed a contract with the local Librillo energy storage power station to supply 643.8MWh of the new generation PowerTitan 2.0 energy storage system. The project is expected to be completed and put into operation in the first quarter of 2027; In May 2025, the company will supply a complete set of energy storage equipment for the Zelestra1GWh large-scale energy storage project; In November of the same year, we won the EPC general contracting project for 509MW/2036MWh Dune Plus energy storage in the local area, which once broke the record for the construction of similar energy storage projects in Chile. Keywords: Chinese energy storage companies,Energy storage cluster,Energy storage base,Energy storage industry

This long-term strategic cooperation has profound significance. On the one hand, it provides stable and low-cost green electricity for BHP's Chilean mining area, helping mines reduce carbon emissions and consumption; On the other hand, it connects the integration path of new energy and heavy mining industry, providing a replicable and referenceable implementation model for the green transformation of high energy consuming heavy industries worldwide.Editor/Gong Ziwei