Chilean Solar Plant Remains Offline Two Months After Cyberattack
The 103 MW Huatacondo solar facility and its associated battery storage system remain disconnected from the national grid following an August security breach.
The 103 MW Huatacondo solar plant and its 98 MW/312 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Chile’s Tarapacá region have been offline for two months following a cyberattack. According to the Chilean National Electricity Coordinator, both facilities were subject to forced disconnection on August 27, 2026, and remained at zero percent availability as of October 27.
The incident occurred at 1:10 p.m. on August 27, when the National Electricity Coordinator’s control center requested the forced disconnection of the solar plant and its battery storage system due to a cyberattack. The same day, the coordinator also requested the forced disconnection of the 220/23 kV TR1 transformer at the Santa Rita substation, citing a separate cyberattack. Additionally, the Olivos and Espinos thermal power plants in the Coquimbo region were reported unavailable for dispatch that evening due to a loss of remote-control and monitoring capabilities.
The Huatacondo solar plant is owned by a consortium consisting of Japan’s Sojitz Corp. with a 60% stake, Shikoku Electric Power with 30%, and France’s Eiffage with 10%. The battery storage system, developed by AustrianSolar Chile Four SpA, was still in the commissioning phase when the attack occurred. Consequently, the unavailability of the battery system does not represent a disruption of an established commercial operation.
While the National Electricity Coordinator’s daily reports record the causes of disconnections as communicated by plant operators, they do not provide technical details regarding the nature or extent of the cyberattacks. No public information has confirmed whether the incidents were linked or identified the origin of the attacks. Neither the National Electricity Coordinator nor AustrianSolar Chile Four SpA responded to requests for comment regarding the timeline for restoring the facilities.
Following the August incidents, Chile’s National Energy Commission (CNE) initiated a public consultation on a new draft technical standard for cybersecurity and information security within the electricity sector. Although the National Electricity Coordinator monitors millions of attempted attacks, it previously stated in October 2025 that the nation had not recorded cyberattacks with a significant impact on its electricity infrastructure.
