WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

2.3.4 Chile
Carlos Bonifetti, BMG Hidroconsultores, Chile
Wind
Combined cycle (with gas)
0.3%
17%
Key facts
Population 17,067,369 1
Area 756,096 km 2
Climate Mild, with marked seasons in the
central region. Very dry (desert) in the
north. Cool and damp in south. 1
Topography Low coastal mountains; fertile central
valley; rugged Andes in east (highest
point: Nevado Ojos del Salado,
6,880 m) 1
Rain pattern Almost no rainfall in the north (desert).
From the central to the southern
regions rainfall increases up to
4,000 mm per year.
Electricity sector overview
The current national electrification rate in Chile is
about 98 per cent and the population without
electricity is estimated at some 340,000 inhabitants. 2
In Chile, power generation, transmission and
distribution activities are carried out by private
companies.. The State only has functions of regulation,
oversight and indicative planning of investments in
generation and transmission. 3 The main authority on
energy in the country is the Ministry of Energy. There
are four interconnected grids in Chile: Sistema
Interconectado del Norte Grande (SING) is the grid in
the north of the country, hosting 28.06 per cent of the
installed capacity in the country; Sistema
Interconectado Central (SIC) is the grid in the central
part that hosts 71.03 per cent of the installed capacity
and is strongly hydro dominated; Aysen system and
Magallanes system, both in the south, host 0.29 per
cent and 0.62 per cent of the installed capacity
respectively.
The total installed electricity generation capacity
connected to the grids is 17,530 MW. 4 Additionally,
approximately 700 MW are owned by private entities
for self-generation.
Hydropower
Other thermal
6.0%
80.0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Chile
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística 5
According to La Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE),
there are currently 42 small hydropower plants in
Chile connected to the above-mentioned grids, with
individual capacities ranging between 0.1 MW and 20
MW. The total installed capacity of small hydropower
is 261.02 MW. 3 The hydropower power ranges
commonly used in Chile are: pico hyro: 200W–5kW;
micro hydro: 5.1–100 kW; mini hydro: 101–2,000 kW;
small hydro (small hydropower): 2.1–20 MW. 3 For the
purpose of this report, the 20 MW-limit for small
hydropower will be used. Apart from that, 17 new
projects are under construction. They will add 120
MW to Chile’s small hydropower installed capacity.
Also, 26 projects have been approved recently
accounting for 174 MW in total.
Three hydropower plants (27.3 MW) that are located
in Bonito, Pulelfu and Renaico are planned to be
completed in 2013. These new plants will contribute
towards reaching the 990 MW goal the SIC has
planned to install during 2013. Moreover, another 158
MW will be added during the summer with the
construction of the hydro plant Los Hierros de Besalco
(23 MW), Laja I (34.4 MW) by GDF Suez, and two
other hydro plants of 40 MW each under the
supervision of HydroChile. 6
Chile is endowed with a total hydropower potential of
about 60,000 MW. The Chilean Association for Small
and Medium Hydroelectric Plants (APEMEC) reports,
in its May 2012 bulletin, a mini-hydropower potential
between 7,000 MW and 17,000 MW was estimated by
the Energy Ministry (figure 2). 7 This theoretical
potential is located in the central and southern regions
of Chile.
Chile’s electricity is generated mostly from fossil fuels
(natural gas, coal, fuel and diesel). Hydropower
however, plays an important role as well (figure 1). 5
SHP installed capacity (up to 10 MW)
SHP potential (up to 10 MW)
116.68 MW
7,000 MW
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
Hydropower resources are available mainly in the
central and southern areas of the country (included in
the SIC grid) and the Aysen and Magallanes regions.
Hydropower resources are scarce in the north (the
Atacama Desert area) - one of the driest places on
Earth.
SHP installed capacity (up to 20 MW)
SHP potential (up to 20 MW)
435 MW
17,000 MW
0 5000 10000 15000 20000
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Chile
By means of the international agreement for
stabilization of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,
the UNDP Global Environment Fund (GEF) had cofinanced
the Barrier Elimination for Rural
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