Sunset or sunrise? Understanding the barriers and options for the massive deployment of solar technologies in Chile. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haas, Jannik; Palma-Behnke, Rodrigo; Valencia, Felipe; Araya, Paz; Díaz-Ferrán, Gustavo; Telsnig, Thomas; Eltrop, Ludger; Díaz, Manuel; Püschel, Sebastián; Grandel, Matthias; Román, Roberto; Jiménez-Estévez, Guillermo
• Is Part Of: Energy policy. Volume 112(2018)
• Page Start: 399
• Page End: 414
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Mass deployment of solar heat and power plants -- Analysis of Chile's solar sector -- Identification of barriers for solar technology deployment -- Overview of existing and emerging support mechanisms -- Policy proposal for barrier mitigation; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Politique énergétique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.10.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4215

Abstract

Abstract: The use of solar technologies should proliferate in Chile as half of the country has a solar irradiance (GHI) above 5 kWh/(m 2 d). Moreover, the Atacama Desert exhibits further advantageous conditions with 7 kWh/(m 2 d), clear skies and a large energy-consuming mining industry. Since 2012 the solar sector takes off, totalizing over 1600 MWe of solar power and about 100 MWt of solar heat installed by the end of 2016. However, only about 10% of the filed projects are operative; many barriers are slowing down the further development of solar technologies. While several barrier studies for solar technologies exist in the literature, they are often country-specific and there is no publication found regarding the Chilean solar sector. In the present paper, the barriers obstructing the way of Chile becoming a solar power country are found through interviews and then analyzed and classified into six groups (economic, market, system integration, technical, regulatory and information barriers). For these barriers, an overview of emerging mitigation options are provided and future solutions, including opportunities for research, are proposed. Highlights: The solar sector of Chile is analyzed including recent developments. Data from interviews are systemized into a barriers analysis of the solar sector. Main barriers are of economic, market, system integration, harsh local environment, regulatory and information nature. Emerging Chilean energy policies are presented and further solution strategies are proposed. An overview of barriers and mitigation options is presented, including the remaining gap for each barrier.