In the last 12 months, wind and solar generation increased by 27.5% and coal-fired generation only reached 26.5%. This new scenario opens the door to an acceleration of the energy transition and thus comply with the schedule for closing coal-fired thermoelectric plants by 2030.
Wind and solar power are not only meeting Chile's growing energy demand, but are beginning to replace coal-fired generation. A publication in English and Spanish by Ember Climate with support from Chile Sustentable shows the advance of Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) as opposed to the growing decline of coal-fired power plants.
"It means that Chile is well positioned to achieve the closure of all its coal-fired thermoelectric plants by 2030," says Sara Larraín, director of Chile Sustentable.
Among the data obtained, it highlights that while many countries continue to rely on coal to meet their growing demand for electricity, Chile demonstrates that wind and solar energy can meet that demand.
"In 2016, Chile reached its peak of fossil fuel use in the electricity sector, and since then has rapidly reduced its dependence on coal, despite the fact that electricity demand has grown throughout that period," the publication states.
Coal on the decline
The most important statistical data is that today, for the first time, renewable energies exceed coal in Chile. In the last 12 months, wind and solar generation increased by 27.5% and coal generation only reached 26.5%.
So too, wind and solar generation have doubled since 2018. It increased from 9TWh (12%) in 2018 to 18 TWh (22%) in 2021. Between 2016 and 2021 there is an increase in electricity demand in Chile (11%), but CO2 emissions were reduced by only 6%.
So also highlights the role of civil society organizations that have conducted various campaigns to achieve a more ambitious decarbonization schedule in Chile, calling for the closure of all coal plants between 2025 and 2030, and their replacement by renewable capacity.
The success achieved so far with the rapid deployment of wind and solar power means that Chile is well positioned to do so. Chile's current target is to achieve 80 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and a 100 percent emission-free power grid by 2050.
"Chile should aim to phase out coal by 2030 and then a zero-emissions power grid by 2035, according to the International Energy Agency's Net Zero by 2050 roadmap. Chile started the race for its energy transition in the electricity sector; now is the time to pick up the pace," says Sara Larraín.