Curtailment of non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) output climbed apace in Chile in Q1, with the level surpassing that seen in the first nine months of 2023 and the whole of 2022.
Generators are experiencing increased curtailment, particularly in solar PV hubs Antofagasta and Atacama regions, as NCRE capacity continues to grow with Chile’s decarbonization push providing sustained thrust.
NCRE curtailment for Q1 was 1.57TWh, up 242% year-on-year, a quarterly review presentation by local renewables and storage association Acera was told.
“This is bad news, we’re losing clean, cheap, renewable, emissions-free electricity,” Acera executive secretary Ana Lía Rojas said.
She cited transmission restrictions and grid inflexibility as chief factors.
Curtailment began trending up in 2021, after grid work had eased levels in prior years.
It is expected to worsen before it improves in the country, which is aiming…
