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Chile sets new ambitious renewable energy targets

Chile sets new ambitious renewable energy targets View over Santiago, Chile (source: flickr/ patrickcoe, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 30 Sep 2015

Chile sets an ambitious new goal of reaching a share of 70% of renewables in the energy mix of the country by 2050. Geothermal explicitly mentioned will require support to be able to part of that mix.

Early this week, Chile’s government set new targets to increase renewable generation and promote a low-emission energy future and at competitive costs , in which at least 70% of the energy matrix will be derived from from renewable sources in 2050.

The announcement, which represent an increase of 58% over the current renewable matrix , comes a day after Michelle Bachelet committed at the United Nations General Assembly to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 30% Chile by 2030, if there is international support for it.

The new target was disclosed by Minister of Energy, Maximo Pacheco , during the presentation of the”Road Map to 2050: Towards Sustainable Energy and inclusive”.

“This roadmap proposes concrete measures to topics such as energy efficiency, which not so long occupied a priority in the energy debate,” Pacheco said in a statement.

The paper proposes that at least 70% of the energy matrix comes from renewable sources like solar or wind in 2050, complemented by new hydroelectric developments and incorporating biomass, geothermal and ocean energy.

“As an overview, this document has an innovative seal and its holistic, multi-sectoral, participatory and long-term perspective,” said the minister, adding that Chile’s energy future could not be drawn only “from a technical look”.

In the field of transport , the roadmap aims to reverse the current trend of using private vehicles with the creation of a quality public transport , increasing non-motorized options and intermodal systems.

In addition, the document also refers to cleaner fuels and states that all new cars, public transport in areas with decontamination plans and the set of freight vehicles do not emit pollutants into the atmosphere.

According to the latest report from the National Center for Innovation and Development of Renewable Energies (CIED) , non-conventional renewable matrix Chile represents 11.7% of the interconnected systems, why the new target set by the Government 2050 represent an increase of 58.3% in 34 years.”

Source: La Nacion