Newsletter ACERA - Julio 2019

OPINION
José Ignacio Escobar
President of ACERA
AN ELECTRIC MATRIX ADVANCING STRONGLY
TOWARDS COMPLETE DECARBONIZATION
The first 2019 semester was quite dizzying. With 5,800 MW of
NCRE (Non-Conventional Renewable Energy) power in
operation and another 1,475 MW in construction, we can look
with optimism the chance of reaching 20% of NCRE by 2020,
complying with the 20/20 goal set by ACERA five years ahead
of what is stipulated by the current law.
Medium-term expectations are to keep on growing at rates
ranging between 800 and 1,200 MW per year, representing over
90% of all the new capacity incorporated to the interconnected
system and where ACERA members are responsible for over
80% of investments. This level of sustained growth has allowed
the creation of a robust industry of generators, providers, and
services, who have made of Renewable Energies their means of
living, their way to start a business, and an important source of
job creation.
The great effort of ACERA’s member companies for carrying out
their projects has had an important political and social support.
In the political aspect, we are optimistic about the discussions
generated concerning decarbonization, with a first concrete
measure: a withdrawal schedule of the first eight
thermo-electric power plants. We also see that important law
projects are beginning to take shape, such as the modification
to the Green Tax, the new Electric Distribution law, and the
Climate Change law. Three key pieces for the regulatory
framework modernization required to respond to the current
market, social, and environmental needs.
From a social point of view, we are excited about the
commitment of citizens to receive clear, concrete, and fast
answers concerning the evident and increasing natural disasters
caused by climate change. They seem to have run out of
patience, and Greta Thunberg goes far beyond being a teenage
activist; she represents a growing and massive feeling. ACERA
is not lagging behind either. We are working so that COP 25
-that will be held in Chile this year- becomes a turning point in
national and international policies concerning the urgency to
accelerate the measures required to slow global warming, the
largest challenge faced by humanity. In this context, Chile has
the opportunity to consolidate its leadership by committing to
highly ambitious measures, such as reaching a 100%
Renewable Chile by 2040 in electricity, 100% of electric vehicles
by 2050, in addition to the already public commitment of being
carbon-neutral by 2050.
During this second semester, ACERA will follow the already laid
out path of fostering a binding and accelerated commitment
towards electric matrix decarbonization. The resulting
environmental and social benefits are huge, and the impact on
price and supply safety is near to nil.
We are a long-established trade association. We feel different,
unique, and diverse, keeping always in mind our original
mission, that is to transform Chile into a 100% renewable
country. We will also continue leading the plans to incorporate
women in our sector, as well as collaborating with disabilities.
The major decisions are based on diversity, and the different
visions render the best answers.
Thanks everyone for their great support!