Chile trumpets new coal-to-renewables shift at Madrid’s COP25

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The Campiche thermal power plant in Chile. Image credit: Chilean Energy Ministry

One of the world’s current solar hotspots is to tap into renewables to fill the gap left behind by earlier closures of fossil fuel plants, under plans unveiled at this year’s COP25 summit.

On Monday, Chile used the annual UN climate talks in Madrid to announce it will retire four large coal facilities ahead of schedule and replace them with renewable generation.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

According to a government statement, the new plan will see 334MW in coal capacity – Engie’s Mejillones CTM1 and CTM2 – shuttered by the end of 2024, ahead of the original 2040 date.

For their part, the two facilities making up AES Gener’s 340MW Ventanas coal duo will be phased out two years in advance, with both now set for switch-off by the end of 2022.

Chilean Energy minister Juan Carlos Jobet, who staged the COP25 announcement alongside Engie executives, explained new renewables will fill the shortfall created by earlier coal shutdowns.

“All [four coal] plants are in areas of high industrial density. Their closure will help improve quality of life for inhabitants there,” said Jobet, appointed as minister only six months ago.

Bifacial proponents join the race for Atacama

Chile’s emphasis on the citizen benefits of the renewable transition comes after months of intense street protests over inequality, forcing to relocate COP25 from capital Santiago to Spain’s Madrid.

The Latin American state – where coal still powers 40% of energy production – is working to become carbon-neutral by 2050, with growth of renewables seen as a pivotal element of the plan.

The country claims to have hit its 20%-by-2025 renewable share target this year and will now focus, minister Jobet said, on the “challenge” of upgrading its grid to ensure clean power reaches Chileans.

The prospect of a state-backed renewable push finds Chilean solar at an auspicious time. Atacama, home to the world’s reportedly highest irradiation levels, has seen a surge of activity in recent years.

In 2019 alone, projects involving Mainstream (145MW), Sonnedix (171MW), Valhalla (561MW) and Google (a 125MW hybrid) have made strides in the desert, one of the world’s driest.

Some of the latest Atacama arrivals are going down the bifacial route. Two-sided panels will power a 382MW plant Enel is building and a 103MW bank-backed project by Spain’s Grenergy.

The prospects and challenges of Latin American solar and storage will take centre stage at Solar Media's Energy Storage Latin America, to be held in Colombia on 28-29 April 2020.

Read Next

October 7, 2025
Econergy will acquire 100% stake in the 155MW Ratesti solar project in Romania, further expanding its European renewable energy portfolio.
October 7, 2025
Juniper Green Energy through its subsidiary Juniper Green Sigma Eight has signed a 70MW power purchase agreement with renewable energy giant Tata Power. 
October 7, 2025
Solar PV will account for almost 80% of the 4.6TW of new renewable power expected to be added by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
October 7, 2025
OpenSolar has secured US$13.1 million in equity financing from technology investors, including Titanium Ventures, Google and others.
October 7, 2025
Doral Renewables has secured a PPA with an unnamed 'corporate buyer' for its 430MW Cold Creek solar-plus-storage project in Texas.
October 7, 2025
US independent power producer (IPP) Arevon has begun operations at two utility-scale solar projects in Indiana.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK