Portafolio Energía Chile Multipaís
The Portafolio Energía Chile Multipaís is an initiative of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic and Energy (BMWE) of Germany.
Objective
Since 2014, the Portafolio has been working in Chile to increase the sustainability of the energy sector by providing technical assistance, for example, to improve the regulatory framework, to promote new businesses, through project financing and renewable hydrogen.
The Chilean Ministry of Energy is the program’s counterpart in promoting initiatives for the use of renewable energies in companies, the development of a green hydrogen industry, decarbonization of the electricity matrix, cogeneration, energy efficiency and more.
Chile’s renewable energy potential as a huge opportunity
GIZ specializes in technical cooperation for sustainable development worldwide. In Chile, the energy sector is responsible for about 78% of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
According to a study published in 2014 by the Portafolio de Energía Program, a potential of 1,800 GW in renewable energies was identified for Chile. This potential is about 80 times the country’s current energy demand. Also, the Atacama Desert is the best place in the world for solar energy, with a radiation of up to 2,400 kWh/m2, allowing to achieve photovoltaic plant factors of over 45%.
These characteristics make Chile a paradise for renewable energies. Clean energy enables the country to be a regional forerunner in the energy transition. Adding to that, renewables enable Chile to be an energy exporter and develop new green technologies such as green hydrogen, concentrated solar power and pump storage.
Ongoing Projects
Our Contributions to the Chilean Energy Transition
Potential of Renewable Energies in Chile
In 2014 a study of the GIZ unveiled the enormous potential for non-conventional renewable energies in Chile. A conservative estimation states that about 1,800 GW of renewables could be installed, excluding even large hydropower projects. The study does not only consider geographical aspects (like solar radiation or wind speed), but also topographical and territorial restrictions.
Scale-up of renewables and integration to the grid
In dedicated projects the Portafolio de Energía Program has supported and promoted the scale-up of renewable energy power plants and their integration into the national electricity grids. Besides participating in round-tables on renewables, the GIZ supported the Chilean Ministry of Energy in the establishment of Grid Codes and the elaboration of new regulations. This work was visualized in the Regulatory Map which can be downloaded here. (Spanish)
Social Acceptance of renewable energy projects
Renewable energy projects such as wind or solar parks require a certain amount of territory. In the course of the expansion of renewables it is crucial to include local communities when planning or constructing new plants. In order to facilitate the communication between project developers and communities, the Portafolio de Energía Program developed a free software application to measure the level of Social Acceptance. The tool can be accessed through this link.
Coal phase-out and Just Transition
Although Chile has increased its installed capacity of renewable energy in recent years, it produced still about 37 % of its electricity in coal-fired power plants in 2020. The GIZ participated in the national coal-commission in which the coal phase-out until 2040 was discussed and resolved. In order to secure a smooth transition, multiple topics have to be handled: among these topics are grid-stability when more and more coal-fired power plants are shut down, grid-expansion to transport the electricity from producers to consumers and also a fair treatment of local economies that were built around the existing power plants. The GIZ has published several studies in this context, which be found here. (Spanish)
Innovative technologies and approaches
The energy sector is experimenting severe structural changes. This requires also the implementation of new technologies. The Portafolio de Energía Program of the GIZ Chile has actively been engaged the development of innovative technologies in the Chilean Market. A few examples are:
- The construction of the first concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Chile and Latin-America – Cerro Dominador
- The conversion of coal-fired power plants into renewable energy assets, like the Carnot Battery
- The development of the green hydrogen industry in Chile and also Chile’s National Green Hydrogen Strategy
- The establishment of an integral approach for the use of renewable energies in the water management in the north of Chile