Cristian Sepúlveda: “This supply tender is an opportunity for CSP to take off in Chile”

Publication of the introductory foundations of 2023 Supply tender in Chile It produced good first impressions in the energy sector, not only for the total generation that will be auctioned between the two blocs (5,400 GWh is divided between 1800 GWh and 3600 GWh, respectively), but also because it is considering more technologies that can provide stability to the system.

“It took us four years of work to speak up and say that progress has been made. It is always possible to improve, but without a doubt, these preliminary rules are a step forward, because they are different from other supply tenders. Executive Director of the Association for Concentrated Solar Power (ACSP), Christian Sepulvedain conversation with strategic energy.

One of the main changes of this call compared to bids submitted in the past, is the merging of storage and generation means with non-variable renewable energies, as well as an economic incentive of $0.15/MWh for every GWh of energy that can be generated with said means (up to a maximum of $15). / MWh) for bids submitted in hourly groups A or C.

To be precise, elementary grammar advances.”Means of storage and generation using unchanged renewable energies, “among them storage systems themselves, pumping stations, renewable parks with storage and those with regulatory capacity (except for generation subject to hydrological change), such as concentrated solar power plants.

Likewise, means of generation with unchanging renewable energies capable of providing energy continuously for long periods of time, such as geothermal power plants, are also taken into account.

What does this mean for cloud computing service providers? “It gives us the opportunity to participate and this technology has a privilege. We are not competing with cheaper technologies like wind or photovoltaic, for example, but on equal terms,” Sepulveda explained.

“In addition, the incentives are very important for the economic development of the industry, so we are very satisfied and it is an opportunity for solar energy concentration to take off in Chile,” he added.

Given that, and after the meager supply of offers last year (there were only 15 interested parties), the CEO The Supreme Council of Social Security considered that this invitation may exceed the record number of 84 bids, corresponding to the supply tender 01/2015.

“There is a new player, called storage, which is the way to avoid energy dumping, so there will be companies that participate in a certain block or in all three. It is important that we spread to all winds what is happening in Chile, so that there are those who are interested in seeing the country as an important investment pole ” .

But in terms of price, it does not envision better figures, given the current situation the country is going through in terms of energy expenditures, marginal costs and difficulties in the transportation system.

“It is very risky to hold on to a value. Although it is possible to bid for a project that will start working in 4 or 5 years, I think it will close at real cost today and we will have prices higher than the 2022 supply tender prices.”