Chile approves US$1.03bn of power projects in August

Chilean environmental authorities approved US$1.03bn worth of power projects in August as close to 420MW of renewable energy initiatives secured environmental permits. On the solar front Chinese developer Sky Solar's US$220mn, 88MW Arica II María José PV project was approved along with a US$15.4mn, 8MW expansion of its 18MW Arica I plant in region XV. In region III authorities green lighted Sunedison's IFC-backed US$121mn, 50MW San Andrés PV project and the US$300mn, 135MW Carrera Pinto PV project being developed by a JV comprised of German firm Saferay and Chile's CATV Electrónica. Hungarian developer Viento Austral's (formerly Callis Energía Chile) modifications to its US$250mn, 120MW Ancud wind farm on the island of Chiloé were approved. And local investment bank IM Trust's US$56,3mn, 17.8MW Baquedano run-of-the-river hydro was granted environmental permits in region VIII. In power transmission, modifications to the 12MW Santa Marta biogas project's grid connection were approved as well as a US$70.5mn transmission line project submitted by northern generator E-CL. The 220kV transmission line, stretching 160km between the Chacaya and Crucero substations is required to evacuate power generated at the now shelved US$1.5bn Infraestructura Energética Mejillones coal-fired complex.