chile

Chile’s solar PV installations reached 1,267MW at the end of June this year, up 50MW from the previous month, according to the latest figures from Chilean renewable energy research institute (CIFES).

The Chilean Congress has passed a major law on electricity transmission, which will help the development of both renewable and non-renewable energy projects.

Solar power firms and some wind developers are experiencing curtailment of their energy production in the north central regions of Chile, but this will have been accounted for in their business plans, according to a major industry representative.

Chilean utility Colbún has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with French energy giant Total and SunPower for the energy produced from a 164MW solar PV plant in Chile.

PV industry leader JinkoSolar announced that it has supplied 122MW worth of modules to Pattern Energy for its Conejo solar plant in Chile. Pattern Energy, a US-based independent power producer, will also become the owner of the project.

Total and its affiliate SunPower have agreed to supply electricity from a 100MWac solar PV project to the Metro of Santiago in Chile.

Chile’s Ministry of Energy has formed a new committee for renewable energy to promote the consumption of clean energy.

Chilean utility Colbun is to purchase two of SunEdison’s solar PV projects in development in Chile along with their long-term power supply contracts.

Chile’s energy regulator CNE has delayed its power auction to 25 July this year, in a move that should benefit renewable energy companies looking for certainty over transmission rules.

Chile’s National Center for Innovation and Development of Sustainable Energy (CIEDs) has launched a solar calculator to help consumers estimate potential cost savings from installing a solar PV system or solar thermal unit.