Chilean Achegeo comments on 20-20 electricity goal for the country
El Tatio Geysers, Chile (source: flickr/ Terry Feuerborn, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
13 Mar 2012
Geothermal energy will play a fundamental role to fuel the ambitions goal of Chile to derive 20% of its electricity from renewable sources.
Chile has recently passed the law 20/20 which states that in 2020 the 20% of electricity generation should proceed from renewable sources. In order to achieve this goal, geothermal energy plays a fundamental role.
Fernando Allende, President of the Chilean Geothermal Energy Association (Achegeo) conducted an interview on CNN Chile where he talked about the geothermal field highlights and the implications of the 20/20 adoption law.
The association’s president said that the implementation of a geothermal project, from the exploration phase to the running, provides an execution time of between five and seven years.
A report by the “technical-parliamentary citizen Commission” has estimated that by 2020, geothermal energy could contribute with 1,000 MW of installed capacity and considering capacity factors around 80%, would mean that only geothermal energy could provide more than 10% of the country energy needs.
In November 2011, Achegeo Association conducted the first geothermal congress attended by different energy companies from 18 countries. Synergies between Chilean and international companies will be crucial in order to achieve the 20/20 law.
Allende said that “it is in the exploration phase where more risks are assumed” and it will be very important to change the law 19.657 (adopted in 2000) that regulates concessions for the development of geothermal energy.
54 exploration concessions have been granted and by 2015, two plants in an advanced stage are expected to be ready.
Written by A. Ormad
