Chile launches tender to assign up to 2,456 hectares of public land for solar, RE

Chile’s Ministry of National Property has issued a public tender to lease public land to domestic and foreign investors for the development of renewable energy projects in the districts of Diego de Almagro and Copiapó, in the Atacama region.

The announcement was published by the ministry on its web portal on Monday, and is part of the government’s plan to guarantee a diversified, balanced electrical mix and to “give the country greater levels of sovereignty in its energy requirements”.

The 35-year lease contract is divided into three stages or periods of development: the development phase, the construction period and the period of operation. The bidding rules were published on December 11 and the reception and opening of bids will be made on February 7, 2018.

Overall, ten surfaces will be tendered with a total area of 2,456 hectares. All of these areas are expected to host PV, CSP and wind power projects. Among the conditions, it is specified that, in the case of photovoltaic solar technology projects, the concessionaire must develop at least 1 MW per seven hectares of leased fiscal land.

The requested areas must include all the investments necessary to achieve the execution of the projects, such as general infrastructure works, construction, equipment supply and consultancy services.

In early June, the same ministry issued a new regulation for using state land for the development of projects in the renewable energies sector.

The new provisions were aimed at making it far easier to use public land for building projects in the renewable energies sector.

Under the new regulation, the maximum term of use granted is to be extended from 30 to 35 years, while the timeframe for the construction of power plants will be extended from its previous maximum of 24, respectively 48 months, for a maximum of 10 years, from the conclusion of the concession agreement.