Chile

An internal U.S. government watchdog is looking at the loans which kick-started large-scale solar in Chile, after at least three of five solar projects have made moves to restructure these loans.

In a meeting held in Berlin the head of Chile’s National Commission for Energy (CNE) presented the upcoming technology neutral power auction, which will be held in December. Solar is expected to have a significant share thanks to very favorable conditions.

The Spanish developer has raised $104 million in financing for nine large-scale PV projects spread across India and Chile.

The Czech solar developer intends to issue public bonds worth 500 million CZK ($19.9 million). The company will use the net proceeds to finance part of a 60 MW PV project pipeline in northern Chile.

The approved project is the $200 million Alwa solar plant. The installation will be located in northern Chile.

Amigo Solar, a Chilean microgrid provider, announced yesterday its collaboration with a digitized billing system that will help it to alter the utility landscape in the Latin American country. The case shows how solar and IT change the electricity market structures.

The independent power producer recorded a net loss of $110.4 million from its continuing operations — up sharply from $27.5 million a year earlier — due to impairment expenses totalling $75.7 million, in addition to a net deferred tax write-off of $6.9 million.

PV systems installed under Chile’s net-metering scheme have reached 6.4 MW. The Chilean government has recently made it easier to install small-sized PV for self-consumption.

1,620 GWh of capacity is set to be auctioned in the daytime block. The timetable has been set for the presentation of bids for the first stage to take place on 11 October.

The Japanese financial institution increased investments in clean energy and energy-smart technologies during an overall sector downturn in investment.