Towards a sustainable electricity system: Chile's progress in decarbonization

This is an automated translation of the original release published in Spanish.

Schneider Electric Chile Press Release
February 2025

At a global level, the transition to a carbon-free world is no longer a distant aspiration, but an ongoing process that is redefining the energy future. In addition, the climate emergency and the need to strengthen energy security have made decarbonisation one of the main global goals.

In this context, Statkraft's Green Transition Scenarios (2024) report projects that the energy sector transition will continue to accelerate globally, driven by declining renewable energy costs as well as climate and energy security concerns. In addition, the report highlights that wind and solar power will quadruple by 2030 and increase 13-fold by 2050, allowing the electricity sector to be fully decarbonized by 2050.

And in the face of this scenario, Chile is already showing significant progress in this direction. According to data from the National Electric Coordinator, in 2023 the electrical system reduced its CO₂ emissions by 21%. In addition, 63% of electricity was generated by renewable sources, while generation from coal fell by 27%, marking a milestone in the national energy transition. However, the World Economic Forum's Fostering Effective Energy Transition report (2024) places Chile among the top 20 in the world for progress in this area.

However, despite the progress, the path towards a full energy transition still presents challenges. This is why cooperation between the public and private sectors and the implementation of innovative solutions will be crucial to accelerate this process and consolidate a sustainable and resilient energy model.

In relation to the above, Victor Paredes, director of Power System, indicates that “the energy transition not only requires a greater deployment of renewable energies, but also a more efficient and digitalized management of the electrical system.”

To address this challenge, platforms such as Schneider Electric’s Resource Advisor help to monitor emissions data based on key metrics. Zeigo Activate also allows small and medium-sized businesses to measure their emissions, draw up a decarbonisation roadmap and access solution providers. “One solution is designed for large companies and the other for SMEs, thus covering the entire ecosystem,” Paredes points out.

“Digital technologies are essential to achieve the commitment we have as a country. Digital makes data visible, and if it can be seen, it can be monitored to adjust and improve the efficiency of assets, processes and operations in companies,” concludes the expert.

However, it is worth highlighting that Schneider Electric has developed a comprehensive decarbonisation plan and a Net-Zero commitment that reinforces its leadership in sustainability. Through its Zero Carbon Project - launched in April 2021 - the company provides its partners with access to specialised training, expert support and technological tools that enable them to accelerate the reduction of emissions with a positive impact on the climate.

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