Why is PV installed capacity growing in Chile?

4.4. Chilean electricity market The PV installed capacity in Chile has experienced a sustained growth due to a combination of several factors as a decrease of PV costs, a solar resource with very high levels of solar irradiation and the conditions of the electricity market.

What technology is used in solar power plants in Chile?

The predominant technology employed by the PV power plants installed in Chile is based on Si solar cells preferring the p-cSi over the m-cSi technology by far, followed by the CdTe the bifacial solar cell technology. However, 22.9% of the total PV capacity does not specify the technology used.

Why is solar power important in Chile?

Solar power in Chile is an increasingly important source of energy. Total installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity in Chile reached 8.36 GW in 2023. Solar energy provided 19.9% of national electricity generation in Chile in 2023, compared to less than 0.1% in 2013.

Where are solar PV systems tested in Chile?

The majority of the outdoor tests of solar PV systems conducted in Chile have been performed in the northern region, remarking two locations: Antofagasta and San Pedro de Atacama, also including some studies conducted in Santiago de Chile in the central region.

Where is the largest solar PV installation in Chile?

Fig. 11 shows the power generation of one of the biggest solar PV installation in Chile connected to the SIC: Luz del Norte PV power plant (P1), located in the Atacama Region with a gross capacity of 141 MW. Fig. 11 represents the generation profile of the plant from January 2nd to 3rd of 2016.

Where is FPV installed in Chile?

The largest FPV installation in Chile has a capacity of 230 kW p and is installed in San Felipe in central Chile on a water pond for the irrigation of a vineyard . Hence, while we have seen FPV activity in Chile, there exists a lot of untapped potential in the country that is affected by drought.