Chile

French multinational energy company ENGIE plans to cease all of its coal-fired power generation activities in Latin America by 2025. In Chile, which enjoys some of the highest solar irradiation levels in the world, much of this capacity will be replaced by PV projects – many of which are already in development. pv magazine spoke with ENGIE’s energy efficiency product manager, Francisco Retamal, as well as Senior Project Chief Julio Saintard and Senior Business Developer Cristopher Llanos about their experience working on solar projects in Chile, and the growing role for string inverters like Huawei’s in all market segments.

Chile continues to lead the energy transition in Latin America, but international investors are nervous. The pandemic is subsiding, thanks to a vaccination rate close to 80%, and energy demand is showing signs of recovery. However, the political landscape still has investors on edge, reports Luisa Cabello.

The bid was submitted for the 390 MW Likana Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project under development by EIG Global Energy Partners.

Canadian Solar Libertador Solar Holding SpA submitted the lowest bid for a PV project in Chile’s latest clean energy auction.

Research institutes in Germany and Chile are investigating the potential of extracting lithium and other minerals, as well as drinking water, from brines used in geothermal energy. The concept could greatly reduce the environmental impacts of mining in northern Chile. The project has set up a demonstration of the technology at a geothermal power plant in western Germany, and is working to identify optimal sites in Chile for further development.

Electricity bill payers in nations as diverse as Germany, Greece, India and China should be aware new solar projects can now generate electricity cheaper for them than legacy coal and gas-fired plants.

A Spanish renewable energy company has installed its first, pilot mobile PV unit at a new detention center in Chile.

The 50 MW Highview Enlasa project will be located in Diego de Almagro, in Chile’s Atacama Region.

The sheer volume of new power lines which will be required to accommodate the rising tide of solar installations ensures copper has been included by the International Energy Agency on its list of minerals which must keep flowing if the energy transition is to stay on course. And it’s not production that’s the potential bottleneck.

The Chilean environmental authorities are currently scrutinizing the projects Solar La Pampina (160 MW), Gabriela (220 MW), Ghungnam Kcs (709 MW of PV and 300 MW of CSP), Pelequén (175 MWp), and Planta Solar Sol del Loa (640 MW).