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Is Chile the Next Star in Renewable Energy?
Is Chile the Next Star in Renewable Energy?
December 6, 2013
For years there has been a lot of talk about clean energy in America, China, and Europe, but a new player has entered the field of play: Latin America. Eager to kick their dependence on coal, oil, and other fossil fuels, these nations are beginning to ramp up their investment in renewable power.
Whereas Brazil used to be the only country that had any sort of significant investment in the sphere, recently countries like the Dominican Republic and Uruguay have stepped up their games, but no one has come close to the green power shift undertaken by Chile.
Fortuitous location
Chile’s location and access to an abundance of clean energy has the country primed for growth. It’s Atacama Desert has levels of solar irradiance that the rest of the world can only dream about, there are strong winds both on and offshore waiting to be harvested, and its location next to tectonic plates make geothermal energy a tempting option going forward. In September 2013, Chile’s government voted to pass legislation for even more ambitious renewable energy levels nationwide, upgrading the existing law mandating that 10% of the nation’s energy portfolio come from renewable sources by 2020 to an impressive 20% by 2025.
Cost of electricity
Chile has a high demand for electricity led by a massive energy-intensive mining industry, and this coupled with high prices from importing fossil fuels, in addition to an inefficient electricity grid, results in an enormous electricity bill. The higher costs for standard grid electricity (an average of $0.25 per kilowatt-hour in Chile compared to about $0.10 in America) mean it will be easier for renewables to reach grid parity.
World leader in solar irradiance
Northern Chile is the home of the Atacama Desert, which receives the highest levels of solar irradiance on the planet. If Germany can lead the world ...
December 6, 2013
For years there has been a lot of talk about clean energy in America, China, and Europe, but a new player has entered the field of play: Latin America. Eager to kick their dependence on coal, oil, and other fossil fuels, these nations are beginning to ramp up their investment in renewable power.
Whereas Brazil used to be the only country that had any sort of significant investment in the sphere, recently countries like the Dominican Republic and Uruguay have stepped up their games, but no one has come close to the green power shift undertaken by Chile.
Fortuitous location
Chile’s location and access to an abundance of clean energy has the country primed for growth. It’s Atacama Desert has levels of solar irradiance that the rest of the world can only dream about, there are strong winds both on and offshore waiting to be harvested, and its location next to tectonic plates make geothermal energy a tempting option going forward. In September 2013, Chile’s government voted to pass legislation for even more ambitious renewable energy levels nationwide, upgrading the existing law mandating that 10% of the nation’s energy portfolio come from renewable sources by 2020 to an impressive 20% by 2025.
Cost of electricity
Chile has a high demand for electricity led by a massive energy-intensive mining industry, and this coupled with high prices from importing fossil fuels, in addition to an inefficient electricity grid, results in an enormous electricity bill. The higher costs for standard grid electricity (an average of $0.25 per kilowatt-hour in Chile compared to about $0.10 in America) mean it will be easier for renewables to reach grid parity.
World leader in solar irradiance
Northern Chile is the home of the Atacama Desert, which receives the highest levels of solar irradiance on the planet. If Germany can lead the world ...
http://theenergycollective.com/jeremy-gottlieb/311841/chile-next-star-renewable-energy
1 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Chile Ups Renewable Energy Target
Tildy Bayar, Associate Editor, Renewable Energy World
September 06, 2013
LONDON -- Chile’s upper house of parliament has unanimously passed a bill revising its renewable energy targets upward, from the previous goal of sourcing 10 percent of the nation's energy mix from renewables by 2020 to 20 percent by 2025.
Chilean utilities will now have to get 20 percent of their power from “unconventional” renewables (defined as excluding hydropower plants over 40 MW).
Industry analysts say the bill has moved slowly since its original introduction into the lower parliamentary house in 2010. An earlier version was passed by the lower house in June but opposed by energy minister Jorge Bunster. One concern, raised in a report by the nation’s Mining Commission, was that in order to meet the previous 20/20 target an additional 4600 MW would need to be added and the transmission system would need to be upgraded. According to deputy energy secretary Sergio del Campo, a key constraint is that urban load centres are located far from where solar and wind farms are expected to be built.
But with revisions including moving the target year to 2025 and adding a price cap of US $0.095-0.010/kWh to the bidding system – changes which Bunster described as “minor modifications” – the bill proved acceptable.
Alfredo Solar, President of the Chilean Association of Renewable Energies (ACERA), said ...
Tildy Bayar, Associate Editor, Renewable Energy World
September 06, 2013
LONDON -- Chile’s upper house of parliament has unanimously passed a bill revising its renewable energy targets upward, from the previous goal of sourcing 10 percent of the nation's energy mix from renewables by 2020 to 20 percent by 2025.
Chilean utilities will now have to get 20 percent of their power from “unconventional” renewables (defined as excluding hydropower plants over 40 MW).
Industry analysts say the bill has moved slowly since its original introduction into the lower parliamentary house in 2010. An earlier version was passed by the lower house in June but opposed by energy minister Jorge Bunster. One concern, raised in a report by the nation’s Mining Commission, was that in order to meet the previous 20/20 target an additional 4600 MW would need to be added and the transmission system would need to be upgraded. According to deputy energy secretary Sergio del Campo, a key constraint is that urban load centres are located far from where solar and wind farms are expected to be built.
But with revisions including moving the target year to 2025 and adding a price cap of US $0.095-0.010/kWh to the bidding system – changes which Bunster described as “minor modifications” – the bill proved acceptable.
Alfredo Solar, President of the Chilean Association of Renewable Energies (ACERA), said ...
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/09/chile-ups-renewable-energy-target
Alfredo Solar, President of the Chilean Association of Renewable Energies (ACERA), said
