China to build huge solar park in Chile

Two Chinese firms will begin building a 300 megawatt solar energy park in Chile this year.

Shanghai-based renewable energy company Sky Solar Holdings Co, Ltd and state-owned China Development Bank are partnering with Chilean conglomerate Sigdo Koppers to build a 300 megawatt (MW) solar energy project in Chile.

The first stage of the US$900 million project will be a 2 MW pilot project followed by an 18 MW ground-mounted project. Once these two projects are operational, the remaining building works will begin and are expected to be carried out over the next 18 months.

Sky Solar said Chile’s politically stable government and policies, strong investment environment, electricity demand and the government’s increasing focus on renewable energy makes it one of the most attractive PV markets in the world.

The company also believes this collaboration formally begins the start of the grid-parity solar PV market in South America. Sky Solar has long been committed to the development of grid-parity PV markets.

Chile currently derives 34% of its electricity from hydropower, but other forms of renewable energy only make up from 1% to 4% of its energy supply