Chile cities keen to explore renewables - report

Chilean municipalities are increasingly interested in exploring renewable power generation and energy efficiency, promoted by Fundacion Chile (FCh), the public-private partnership focused on innovation, Diario Financiero reported on Wednesday.

Vitacura, Penalolen, Monte Patria, Coyhaique, Frutillar, Caldera and Temuco are already working on local strategies with specific targets so as to take full advantage of their energy development, while Providencia and La Pintana are about to do the same, Fernando Coz from FCh told the daily. In 2013, Vitacura was the first to set a 30% target for clean energy, mainly solar power, by 2030. Each municipality can develop its own energy strategy, no matter its size and location, with the objective to reduce pollution, achieve efficiency or start up a new economic sector, Coz said.

In Caldera, recent studies have identified a potential for over 140 MW of utility-scale solar plants that could produce 298 GWh a year, eight times the local consumption.

Overall, the Chilean government has set a target to boost renewables to 20% by 2025, compared to some 10% now.

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