Renewable energy in Chile

Wind farm near Canela, Chile
Solar radiation map of Chile

Renewable energy in Chile is a fast growing sector that in 2014 provided 9% of the country's electricity.[1] Chile has vast geothermal, solar and wind energy resources while fossil fuel resources are limited.[2] It has a legislated renewable energy target of 20% by 2025.[3]

Geothermal

With 15% of the world's volcanoes, Chile has vast geothermal potential, estimated at 16,000 MW. This includes the El Tatio geyser field, with 8% of the world's geysers.[4]

Solar energy

Main article: Solar power in Chile

The 246MW El Romero solar photovoltaic plant open in November 2016 at Vallenar in the Atacama region[5] It was the largest solar farm in Latin America when it opened.

In 2016, SolarPack won an electricity auction (held without disclosing bidders' power source) by bidding $29.1/MWh;[6] a record low price.[7]

Wind energy

The 115 MW El Arrayán Wind Farm is the largest in Chile,[8] and at the time of its inauguration in 2014 it was the largest in Latin America.[2]

The 2016 electricity auction for a combined 12.34 TWh was won partly by wind power. Mainstream Renewable Power won 7 projects with 985 MW supplying 3.7 TWh/year at between $38.8 and $47.2 per MWh.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Winds of change ", in The Economist, 3 September 2014
  2. 1 2 "Chile Top Renewables Market on Sunny Desert, Windy Shores", in Bloomberg, 8 October 2014
  3. ↑ "Chile Doubles Renewable-Energy Goal to 20% to Spark New Projects", in Bloomberg, 15 October 2013
  4. ↑ Hodgson, Susan Fox: "Focus on Chile", in Geothermal Resources Council Bulletin, vol.42, nr.1, 2013
  5. ↑ Chile connects Latin America's largest solar plant to the national grid, MercoPress, November 14th 2016
  6. ↑ "Licitaciones: piso ofertas es de US$ 29 y Colbún entre las más afectadas".
  7. 1 2 "Wind Energy Scores Big In Chile's Electricity Auction". CleanTechies. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Grand opening for Pattern Energy’s El Arrayán Wind facility in Chile", in Renewable Energy Focus, 30 August 2014

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