RES Latin America focus 'centered on expanding our services business'

The world’s largest independent renewable energy player, RES, is expanding its footprint in Chile, where the UK-headquartered company has a team of more than 100, maintaining over 3GW of installed capacity.

The focus of RES in Chile, and the rest of the region, is services, with a growing emphasis on digital solutions, including those employing drone technology for asset inspections.

In terms of RES's managed portfolio in Chile, solar accounts for the biggest chunk at 2.4GW. The latest contract involves providing operation and maintenance (O&M) services for generator Enel’s Campos del Sol, a 400MW asset in the Atacama Desert. 

Overall, Chile’s renewables push – leveraging solar PV, wind and, increasingly, storage – presents opportunities for suppliers.

To discuss the company's strategy and more, BNamericas conducted an email interview with Renato Machado, Latin America director at RES.

BNamericas: From an O&M perspective, what's your outlook for business growth in Chile for the coming years? 

Machado: RES is investing heavily in the growth of our operational footprint and outputs across Latin America, a region with enormous potential for renewable energy. We are advancing plans to expand our suite of renewable O&M contracts in the region, which currently sits at 5.3GW. 

In addition to a substantial portfolio in Chile that includes O&M contracts for four solar plants in Antofagasta region, we have recently secured an exciting milestone contract with Enel to provide O&M services for a 400MW photovoltaic plant in the Atacama Desert, Campos del Sol. The project brings our managed solar capacity in the country to 2.4GW and reinforces our commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions in the region. 

A favorable climate, broad political support and heavy investment in emerging technologies make Chile an appealing region for RES's growth. 

Following our acquisition of Ingeteam in 2024, we have inherited a strong customer base across Chile. Building on this foundation, we are now more equipped than ever to strengthen our position as the supplier of choice in the region. To achieve this, we are focused on establishing a well-structured team in Chile, which includes the development of a spare parts business to enhance our service offering and customer support. 

BNamericas: In Chile, apart from solar plants, do you provide O&M services for other assets, such as wind, transmission lines or storage systems? If not, are these on your radar? 

Machado: In the coming years, we will remain open to further expansion opportunities in Chile and the broader LatAm region, driving the region’s energy independence, and creating opportunities for local communities, sustainable economic development and progress against global energy transition targets. 

RES began operations in Chile's wind energy sector in February 2012 with a small team of just seven people. Our first project marked the start of a journey that would shape the country's renewable energy landscape. 

By 2015, we became the first independent service company to provide full-service maintenance for a wind farm in Chile – securing a milestone contract for Monteredondo. This set a new precedent in the Chilean wind market, driving greater diversification and specialization in operations and maintenance services. 

Thirteen years on, RES Chile has grown into a team of over 100 people, maintaining more than 3GW of installed capacity. Today, we are a recognized leader in renewable energy services, committed to driving Chile's clean energy transition forward.

BNamericas: In terms of O&M, do solar PV plants in the Atacama Desert present any particular challenges or requirements, given the very high solar irradiance levels there?  

Machado: With its unique geography, Chile has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world and has seen a boom in solar projects in recent years. In the Atacama Desert, which is often referred to as the 'sunniest place in the world', unique climate conditions can pose stressors to all components of a solar PV system.  

Extreme temperatures, higher risk construction, costly and resource-intensive O&M, sand storms, challenges associated with often rocky terrain, and unique environmental protection requirements can impact performance if not managed appropriately. We have built a strong global safety culture at RES and as we continue to grow in Chile, our alignment with best practice safety standards will remain embedded across all our projects. 

This region presents two key challenges. First, its remote location, far from major population centers, makes logistics and accessibility complex. Second, as a predominantly mining area, skilled labor is scarce. However, this also presents an opportunity to train and upskill the local workforce, fostering long-term expertise in renewable energy.

BNamericas: In Chile, do you contract other services companies or is all O&M work carried out by RES directly? 

Machado: Yes, we carry out all of our work directly. We have our own O&M teams operating across Chile, backed by several years of experience in the country. We have a dedicated spare parts facility, which we are actively developing further to meet the growing needs of the market. 

Our work is carried out by fully trained RES employees, ensuring that the highest standards of safety, technical expertise, and experience are maintained. As we continue to scale and deepen our presence in Chile, this approach enables us to provide reliable, high-quality services while remaining responsive to the specific needs of our customers.

BNamericas: Globally, RES also operates in the energy project development and construction segments, among others. In Chile, is RES also operating in any of these spheres?   

Machado: Our primary focus in Chile is on O&M, reflecting the significant number of projects in the region that have reached maturity and now require careful attention to optimize performance and extend their operational lifespan. 

As a global renewables company with a strong track record in development and construction, we have deep expertise and capabilities across the entire project lifecycle. While these strengths make us a trusted partner worldwide, our current focus in Latin America is centered on expanding our services business, where we see considerable potential to support existing renewable assets. 

A particularly exciting area of growth for us in Latin America, including Chile, is our newly established digital solutions business. This part of our business leverages innovative tools such as remote drone inspections, which are especially valuable for projects located in remote areas, like Chilean deserts. Alongside this, we offer a suite of advanced digital products designed to optimize the performance of renewable energy assets, from predictive maintenance to operational analytics. These solutions are closely integrated with our services business and reflect our commitment to driving efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring the long-term success of renewable energy projects. 

By combining our global expertise with a strong local presence, we aim to deliver tailored, high-quality solutions to meet the unique challenges and opportunities in Chile and the wider Latin American market.