Chile

Colbún, Atlas Renewable Energy, and Innergex were the winners of National Copper Corporation of Chile’s (Codelco) latest procurement exercise. They secured 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) to supply clean power from 2026.

A new initiative by the Chilean Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of National Assets is expected to cover storage projects with an aggregate capacity of 13 GWh, distributed mainly in the regions from Arica y Parinacota to Atacama.

Enel Green Power has switched on the 398 MW Guanchoi solar plant in Chile’s Atacama region.

Researchers in Spain have investigated how climate change may possibly impact solar power generation in the world’s region with the highest solar radiation levels – the Atacama desert in northern Chile. They found that, although global warming has the potential to impact solar power generation in the Atacama region, the desert will still retain exceptional conditions for solar power production.

The Chilean authorities want to contract 5,400 GWh of power from renewable energy, while also including battery storage. The selected developers will secure 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Chile reached record levels of PV curtailment in the first five months of this year. The amount of renewable energy that could not be integrated into the electricity grid hit 735 GWh, up 86% from the same period in 2022.

The Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) of the Chilean region of Antofagasta has approved the environmental impact assessment for the 862.5 MW Parque Terra Energía Renovable hybrid solar wind project.

The Chilean National Energy Commission (CNE) has issued bidding rules for electricity supplies for regulated customers. It will auction off a total of 5,400 GWh, divided into two blocks of 1,800 GWh and 3,600 GWh each.

Engie Chile’s largest solar park, in Chile’s Antofagasta region, will have a 638 MWh storage system, currently under construction.

PV developers have launched, resumed and completed several large-scale solar projects in Latin America in recent weeks, including two Enel installations in Chile and Colombia.