Are small Solar panels squeezing power bills in Chile?

Solar panels in the Antofagasta region of Chile. Source: Cristobal Olivares/Bloomberg The latest quirk in Chile’s renewable energy boom is coming from the proliferation of small solar plants that the industry says is squeezing larger producers and inflating power bills.

Does Chile have a solar plant?

The El Romero Solar plant in Chile. Source: Acciona Energia. Renewables will supply 93% of electricity in Chile in 2050, and up to 98% if the country goes through its planned coal phase-out, according to a new joint report prepared by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) and Spanish renewables and infrastructure group Acciona SA (BME:ANA).

When will Cerro Dominador solar thermal plant open?

Construction of the photovoltaic plant commenced in January 2015 and the plant began operating in June 2016 with 160 MW of panels, the largest solar plant in Chile at the time. By the end of 2020 the project was fully erected under the name Cerro Dominador Solar Thermal Plant and is expected to fully operate in 2021.

Why is the global PV build forecast up 1% quarter-on-quarter?

The global PV build forecast is up 1% quarter-on-quarter, largely due to developments in India and Pakistan, with installations slower than previously expected in Japan and South Africa. Most of the established solar markets continue to build steadily. Polysilicon prices have fallen to $4.7/kg.

What is a PMGD & how does it work in Chile?

In Chile, it was a 2006 decree that led to small generators gaining access to the spot market and a price stabilization mechanism to obtain financing for projects of as much as 9 megawatts — somewhere between residential and industrial scale. By being located closer to consumption centers, PMGDs also avoid much of the transmission issues.