Spotlight: Chile's biggest power projects under construction

A total of 104 electric power projects are under construction in Chile with a combined installed capacity of 5,316MW.

According to data from energy regulator CNE, 38% of the projects are solar, 27% wind, 21% run-of-the river hydroelectric plants, 10% diesel, 3% geothermal and 1% natural gas. 

The figures include projects up until November 20 last year and roughly 4,000MW of new capacity is expected to come online this year, of which the vast majority are renewable plants.

In December, 28 new energy projects were submitted to environmental evaluation service SEA, including 21 generation projects, three transmission projects and four mining and O&G development projects.

Total installed capacity in the national grid (SEN) reached 23,861MW in December, while total capacity in Chile, including the regional grids of Aysén and Magallanes, was 24,029MW.

Power generation amounted to 6,782GWh, a 7.5% increase from November.

Below is a list of projects that is ordered by their estimated dates of operations launch, using CNE data.

2020

February

Usya – The 52MW solar park is owned by Spanish renewable developer Acciona. It will require an investment of US$43mn and Acciona recently told BNamericas the project it will enter operations in mid-2020.

March

Combarbalá – This US$38mn, 75MW diesel backup plant belongs to developer Prime Energía. The project ran into some hiccups last year due to environmental complaints by local communities.

Llanos Blancos – The US$70mn Llanos Blancos diesel backup plant also belongs to Prime Energía.

April

Atacama Solar II – The US$180mn, 171MW solar park is owned by developer Sonnedix.

May

Nuevo Quillagua – This 100MW solar park belongs to Spanish renewable developer Grenergy. 

Maitencillo – A 67MW diesel plant.

June

Tolpán Sur – This US$200mn wind farm belongs to Acciona. It will have a capacity of 87MW.  

July 

Cabo Leones II – The 204MW, US$360mn wind farm is the property of Spanish developer Ibereólica.

August

Capricornio – This 90MW solar park, to be located in the Antofagasta region, will require an investment of US$130mn and is developed by Engie Energía Chile.

September

Calama – The150MW wind farm also belongs to Engie. It will be located in Antofagasta region with an investment of US$200mn. 

San Pedro – A 106MW solar park located in Antofagasta region.

October

Malleco – This US$410mn wind farm will have a capacity of 135MW in its first phase and final capacity of 273MW. It will be located in the Araucanía region.

Alena – The US$240mn wind farm aims for 84MW capacity. It belongs to Mainstream Renewable Power and will be located in Biobío region.

Tchamma – This US$324mn project will be located in Antofagasta region and targets 157MW capacity. It is owned by Mainstream Renewable Power and is being built by Sacyr Industrial, with turbines supplied by Siemens Gammesa.

La Huella – Austrian developer Clean Capital Energy is building this US$200mn solar park in Coquimbo region. The park will have a capacity of 89MW.

Río Escondido – A 145MW solar park located in Atacama region.

Santa Isabel – A 159MW first phase of a US$200mn solar park in Antofagasta region. The project belongs to Sun Power Chile and Total Eren. Final capacity will be 190MW.

November

Campos del Sol – The US$320mn project is owned by Enel Green Power and is being built in Atacama region. It will have a capacity of 328MW.

Cerro Tigre – This US$634mn wind farm will be located in Antofagasta region. The project belongs to Mainstream Renewable Power and will have a capacity of 185WM.

Mesamávida – The US$255mn wind farm belongs to AES Gener and will be located in Biobío region, with 60MW capacity.

Azabache – This Enel-owned project will be located in Antofagasta region and require investments of US$49mn. 

December

MAPA – The US$220mn biomass cogeneration project belongs to cellulose producer Arauco. It will have a capacity of 340MW and be located in Biobío region.

La Estrella – This US$105 wind farm project is owned by OPD Energy. It will have a capacity of 50MW and be located in O’Higgins region.

Alfalfal 2 – One of the two plants comprising AES Gener’s Alto Maipo hydroelectric project, Alfalfal 2 will have a capacity of 264MW and will be located in the Metropolitan region.

Las Lajas – The other section of Alto Maipo, Las Lajas will have a capacity of 267MW and bring total Alto Maipo capacity to 531MW. The entire project is expected to cost US$3bn.

Los Cóndores – This US$950mn hydroelectric plant belongs to Enel Generaciòn Chile and will be located in Maule region. Once finished, it will have a capacity of 150MW.

January 2021

Cabo Leones III – The 78MW first phase of the US$182mn, 174MW Cabo Leones wind farm project will be located in Atacama region.

February 2021

Los Olmos – This US$298mn wind farm project belongs to AES Gener. It will be located in Biobío region and will have a capacity of 129MW.

Malleco wind farm – The US$410mn wind project is owned by German developer WDP and will be located in Araucanía region. It will have a capacity of 273MW.

March 2021

Malgarida phase 2 – This US$283mn photovoltaic project belongs to Acciona Energía. It will be located in Atacama region and will have a 162MW capacity.

July 2022

Ñuble – The US$420mn run-of-the river plant is owned by Eléctrica Puntilla. The project will be located in Ñuble province and have a capacity of 136MW.

March 2024

San Pedro – This US$442mn, 170MW hydroelectric project aims to be located in Los Ríos province, close to the southern city of Valdivia. The project belongs to Colbún.