Chile beats 2025 renewables target

Chile's installed capacity in 2018 reached 23.3GW, almost double that of 2008, with 99.2% being connected to the national grid (SEN). Of the total, 53% is from thermoelectric plants, 26% from hydro and 21% from renewables, according to the latest figures from watchdog CNE.

The figures mean the country is almost six years ahead of its own original soft targets, which were for renewables capacity to reach 20% of the total by 2025 and 70% by 2050. Last month, the government said it was aiming to beat the latter figure, expecting 70% renewables as early as 2030.

Installed capacity by grid. Note the grid interconnection in 2018.

The country has also consistently beat its obligations that 20% of power must comprise renewable energy by 2025, more than doubling the required amount every year since 2014.

Total injection by renewable generators has increased tenfold since 2010.

Chile’s renewables projects under construction, as measured by construction requests from companies to the CNE each year, have increased almost sevenfold in capacity, from 212MW in 2008 to 1.49GW in 2018, even as overall capacity of projects fell from 4.23GW to 3.48GW.

Projects declared as under construction to the CNE in MW.

Of the 2018 total, 31.5% of capacity is hydro, 24% wind, 16% solar (with 3% being thermosolar and 13% photovoltaic), 11% coal, 10% diesel and 7% gas.

Transmission capacity, for its part, reached 32.18GW last year, increasing at a rate of 35% over the last 10 years.