Chile Advances Distributed Solar and Electricity Supply through Multi-Year Tenders and Public Sector PV Programs

The Chilean Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with the Agency for Energy Sustainability, is rolling out the “Techos Solares 2.0” program to install photovoltaic systems on public buildings across several regions. Learning from its predecessor program (2015–2019), which installed 5.3 MWp of PV capacity in 136 buildings, this initiative supports institutions via a technical office offering feasibility analyses, bid support, and project monitoring. Financing is expected to be delivered through Energy Service Company (ESCO) contracts, allowing installations without upfront state expenditure. Energy generated will be sold at discounted prices relative to grid electricity, incentivizing adoption. The program has staged application windows extending into late 2025, with specific eligibility requirements such as minimum roof area (350 m²) and annual electricity costs exceeding 12 million Chilean pesos. Municipal approvals and long-term use commitments are among additional requisites.

On the broader electricity supply front, the National Energy Commission (CNE) has published a final report updating demand projections through 2044 with an average annual growth rate of 2.8%. It announced plans for four major electricity supply tenders from 2025 to 2028, totaling 22,500 GWh annually. These tenders are structured with staggered start periods between 2029 and 2034 and target large blocks of energy across different system zones. A recent short-term exceptional tender for 1,470 GWh for 2026 received 72 bids from seven companies, evidencing strong market competition and interest. Prices offered ranged from US$90 to US$125 per MWh, below the reserve price of US$129.

Additionally, the Agencia Chilena de Eficiencia Energética awarded contracts in its sixth “Fondo de Acceso a la Energía 2022” to deploy 19 grid-connected photovoltaic projects totaling approximately 65 kWp across 10 regions. These turnkey projects vary between monophase and three-phase inverter systems, targeting rural and municipal energy access improvements. Chilean municipalities are actively publishing further tenders for solar generators and integrated PV systems, emphasizing sustained state-level commitment to decentralized clean energy technologies. The combined government and market activities signify a dynamic solar sector driven by policy-backed tenders, sustained capacity expansion, and escalating public sector leadership in renewables deployment.