Government officials have said they expect solar power will account for 46% of the country's total installed generation capacity by 2060, with most of that solar located in the north of Chile, particularly in the Antofagasta region.
Is energy storage a viable option for solar PV projects in Chile?
Energy storage system has become a necessity for solar PV projects in Chile to be financially viable and could help address curtailment issues in the coming years. By 2024, there are 3GW of energy storage capacity in operation, testing or construction, with 19GW in various stages of evaluation.
How much solar power does Chile have in 2024?
Chile added 2.4GW of solar PV capacity in 2024, bringing the total cumulative solar PV capacity to 11.7GW, the largest technology in terms of installed capacity, by wind and natural gas. More than half (61%) of Chile's solar PV capacity is located in the solar-rich northern region, with 35% in the Antofagasta region and 26% in the Atacama region.
How much electricity is generated from non-conventional renewable sources in Chile?
Image: Cap Vert From pv magazine LatAm The Energy Report for the month of December 2024 issued by the National Electric Coordinator of Chile shows, among other data, that the installed capacity of electricity generation from non-conventional renewable sources reached 50.2%, with 18,411.3 MW.
What if Chile's solar PV & wind curtailments weren't capped in 2024?
At last year's Latin American Energy Storage Summit, ACERA Executive Director Ana Lía Rojas estimated that Chile's solar PV and wind curtailments would exceed 4.5TWh. If solar PV and wind did not suffer any curtailments in 2024, their share of the country's annual electricity generation would be 47%, instead of 40%.
Is Chile a 'emerging market'?
Chile has streaked ahead of its Latin American rivals after becoming the first country in the region to surpass 1GW of installed solar capacity and brush off its classification as an 'emerging market'.