Chile

Batteries that power our smartphones need lithium – an increasingly precious resource. Could Bolivia supply the world?

Solarpack has witnessed gains across several financial indicators so far this year, after progress across various construction contracts in Europe and South America.

Tumbling solar costs have spurred Google on to a dramatic boost of its exposure to the technology, acting to line up supply from projects worldwide as part of a major clean energy push.

Clean Capital Energy (CCE) has picked a Spanish firm with a track record in Latin American solar to build a utility-scale project in Chile’s centre-north.

The early development of PV projects in Latin America was spearheaded by one country: Chile. And while there remain prospects for large-scale project development, its distributed generation segment has the potential for enormous growth, says Marcela Puntí Martín, the general manager of the Chilean Solar Energy Association (ACESOL).

Chile is home to a massive 10.3 million tons of lithium reserves, most of which is found in the Atacama Desert in the northern part of the country. With some of the highest solar irradiation levels on Earth, this region also boasts the perfect conditions for generating solar power. Developments in the photovoltaic market, alongside implementation of more efficient energy storage systems, are positioning Chile as a regional leader in this field. So what does the future hold for battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Chile, and what obstacles lie in their way?

Enel Green Power has reached another development milestone in Latin America, rolling out the first components of what it says is Chile’s largest solar project to enter construction to date.

London-based renewables investor Actis has raised US$1.23 billion for a new investment fund destined for existing infrastructure assets in emerging markets, starting with its own 100MW PV plant in Chile.

Atlas Renewable Energy has landed a long-term PPA agreement with utility Engie Energía, which will help support the development of a 230MW-plus solar farm in Chile.

Sonnedix has marked the launch of construction works for a large-scale solar installation in Chile’s Atacama desert, with a view to power up the plant late next year.

Natixis and ARCO 3 SpA have closed senior facilities totaling US$69.1 million for a portfolio of solar PV plants in Chile, with up to 70MW of generation capacity.