How much solar energy does Chile produce?

Daily Data Insights Chile produced 9.4% of its primary energy from solar in 2023 — the highest in any country that year According to the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy, in 2023, Chile produced 9.4% of its primary energy from solar sources, the highest share in any country.

Why is solar power important in Chile?

Solar power in Chile is an increasingly important source of energy. Total installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity in Chile reached 8.36 GW in 2023. Solar energy provided 19.9% of national electricity generation in Chile in 2023, compared to less than 0.1% in 2013.

Is there an alternative to solar energy in Chile?

Chile has begun to explore an alternative. Both Cerro Dominador and the Alba Project are powered by so-called solar salts, extracted from the Atacama Desert, composed of potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate. When melted and kept in a liquid state, they allow energy to be stored.

How much does a solar power plant cost in Chile?

Because of its good solar resource several international companies have bid record low prices for solar thermal power plants in Chile, including the Copiapó Solar Project bid at $63/MWh by SolarReserve in 2017. If realized this would have been the lowest ever price for a CSP project in the world.

How much of Chile's energy will come from Sun and wind?

"A decade ago, no one would have imagined that more than a third of Chile's energy would come from the sun and wind before 2030," the former Environment Minister of Chile Marcelo Mena says. “It was seen as something ambitious and it has already been surpassed.”

Does Chile have a solar thermal tower?

Chile’s Atacama desert is home to the only solar thermal tower in Latin America. The imposing 240-meter construction is one of the pillars of the country’s ambitious green energy program that began in 2019 and aims to completely replace fossil fuels by 2040.