Chile Adds Renewable Energy to Power Mix

---

Written by Amir Richani for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

---

Summary

Solar and wind power account for almost half of Chile's installed power generation capacity, according to Chile's National Commission of Energy. Their share is expected to rise, which comes as Industrial Info Resources is tracking 610 renewable energy projects across Chile totaling US$67.35 billion in investments. The increase in renewables capacity is increasing pressure on transmission infrastructure and supporting BESS development.

---

Renewable Energy in Chile

Non-conventional renewable energy accounted for 53% of Chile's total installed capacity by July, equivalent to 20,265 megawatts (MW), according to According to Chile's National Commission of Energy. With additional projects planned and under construction, that share is expected to grow further.

For July, these types of renewable energies, which include biomass, wind, solar, mini-hydro, and geothermal, generated 3,138 gigawatt-hours (GWh), or 42% of Chile's National Electric System (SEN) generation.

Solar photovoltaic is the largest single technology in the SEN's 38,236-MW energy capacity, accounting for 33% or 12,400 MW of the total. Solar energy is followed by wind power, which accounts for 16% of the SEN's capacity, with natural gas and diesel both tied in third place at 10% each. When all categories of Chile's hydroelectric plants (reservoir, river, and mini) are combined, they account for roughly 17.6% of installed capacity.

According to Chile's National Commission of Energy (CNE), by the end of July, 3,834 MW of total generation capacities were under construction. Solar projects acccounted for 3,417 MW, or 89% of the capacity under construction, followed by wind with 379 MW.

Industrial Info Resources data show 610 renewable energy projects in Chile, including hydroelectric power plants, amounting to US$67.35 billion in investments. Solar energy on its own accounts for 469 projects with investment reaching almost US$40 billion. The Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database offers an extensive list of detailed project reports. When filtering by grassroot, unit addition and plant expansion projects, the numbers drop to 552 renewable energy projects, worth US$66.72 billion of investment.

By the end of June, the CNE's historical record showed that 75.67 gigawatts (GW) of non-conventional renewable energy projects already had received environmental approval. However, this does not mean that all those projects will be built.

The diversification into other renewable-energy technologies is increasingly important for Chile and is backed by the nation's resources. The country's high solar irradition, especially in arid northern regions, offer favorable conditions for the development of solar power, while its strong wind resources support wind power generation.

At the same time, expanding solar and wind power generation diversifies the energy mix and reduces reliance on hydropower plants, which have previously been constrained by water levels.

However, the rapid expansion of renewable energy is increasing pressure on Chile's transmission network, with more than 6,000 GWh curtailed in 2025 due to transmission bottlenecks, according to Chile's Minstry of Energy.

To address the nation's structural challenges, Chile is also promoting the development of battery energy storage systems (BESS), which can store electricity from solar and wind's peak generation hours so it can be dispatched when demand or conditions are more favorable.

Meanwhile, Industrial Info Resources is tracking 323 projects in Chile with a BESS component, representing investments of US$49.72 billion.

Key Takeaways

• Non-conventional renewable energy accounted for 53% of the SEN's 38,236 MW installed generation capacity by July.
• Chile reports 3,834 MW of total generation capacities were under construction by July 2026.
• Industrial Info Resources is tracking 323 projects with a BESS component in Chile, representing investments of US$49.72 billion.

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).