Chile seeks to become a leading light on energyPublished: July 10, 2009
The last cooperation agreement signed with the United States illustrates Chile's special interest in the subject of energy efficiency and Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE).
During President Michelle Bachelet's visit to the United States at the end of June, both nations affirmed their commitment to seek alternative forms of development. This complements a range of renewable energy strategies that promote prosperity and discourage dependence upon imported energy.
The Energy Minister, Marcelo Tokman, and the United States Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, -represented by Deputy Energy Secretary, Daniel Poneman- signed a memorandum of cooperation on the issue of energy on June 24th . The document reaffirms a broad partnership to develop the subject of energy, especially to seek energy efficiency and promote non-conventional renewable energies such as solar, wind, wave, geothermal, biofuels etc.
On signing the memorandum, Minister Tokman stated that this agreement "is an indication of the continuing cooperation and exchange between both countries and will help to bring about technical assistance, visits from experts, information exchanges, internships, training, etc." The minister continued to say that, "the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, especially to set up a pilot project for our first solar concentration plant and establish the Renewable Energy Centre (CER), will allow us to incorporate the best international practices and become a reference point in Latin America for these types of energies and development."
The new Renewable Energy Centre being set up in Chile aims to be one of the country's main energy projects. It will serve as an "antenna" that identifies developments in clean technology and the world's best renewable energy practices in order to systemize and promote this information throughout the country.
Chile in favour of wind energy
Chile is experiencing a period of rapid growth in terms of wind energy. Two important projects - Alto Baguales (2MW), which began operating in 2001, and Endesa's Canela 1 (18MW), which began to operate at the end of 2007 - demonstrate the level of development in the area.
Oliver Wendling, member of the executive council for the Catalan Association of Wind Energy, stated that there is a lot of activity underway to develop and create new projects in Chile. He emphasised that given the growing interest in alternative energies, "it is necessary to have a regulatory framework that guarantees the stability of these projects over time." He recognised that it is more expensive to build a wind farm than a power plant, but that in the long run it is more expedient because there is no need to buy gas or coal to make it work. "Wind is free," he pointed out.
Currently, there are four further wind farms under construction in the Coquimbo region: Canela 2 (Endesa), with forty additional wind turbines; Monte Redondo (Suez); Totoral (Norwind); and the generation plant Punta Colorada (Barrick). Further south, in the Arauco province, the Lebu wind farm (Cristalerías Toro) will produce 9 MW. According to Rodrigo García, a Chilean consultant in the area, these projects will bring the total installed capacity to 200MW by the end of the year. This is ten times the current figure and represents enormous growth.
Sources:
www.nexchannel.cl (1)
www.nexchannel.cl (2)