At a glance: Chile’s decarbonization roadmap consultation schedule

Over the coming months multiple stakeholders in Chile will put decarbonization of the electric power sector under the spotlight to draw up a document that lays out what’s needed to achieve goals.

Dialogue work got underway last week and is due to wrap up in April 2024 with a closing session.

The objective of the process, an energy ministry presentation says, is “construction of a roadmap for decarbonization with a focus on 2030, via technical work and strategy dialogue among key actors (civil society, academia and industry), addressing the conditions needed for an accelerated decarbonization and the progressive reduction of local and wider emissions of the electricity sector.” 

Chile’s power sector is working to retire its 5.5GW fleet of coal-fired power plants by 2040 at the latest, which will require multibillion-dollar investment in generation, grid infrastructure and technology and energy storage systems to replace the capacity and help ensure system stability and reliability. Calls have been made to bring the voluntary deadline forward. Plant retirement is already underway. 

Chief goals of the dialogue process are reaching consensus in three key areas, work that will be supported by multilateral IDB, which will act as technical secretary.

The country’s climate change law sets a goal of achieving carbon neutrality and an emissions-free electric power system by 2050. Meanwhile, the national energy policy sets 2030 goals of generating at least 80% of power from renewable sources and installing 2GW of energy storage capacity.

Modernization of the network and enabling infrastructure

Discussion will center on three areas: transmission, the wholesale power market, and grid operation. Topics include localization signals, energy storage investment signals, automation, open access and risk coverage.

Five sessions are due to be held September-November.

Reconversion of thermoelectric plants

Discussion will center on four areas: requisite conditions and goals, reconversion options, transition fuels and supply security. 

Four sessions are due to be held November-January.

A fair energy transition 

Discussion will center on the areas of territorial planning, social and environmental standards and shared benefits.

Three sessions are due to be held in March.