Reducir los vertimientos en Chile: una clave para aprovechar al máximo las energías renovables

Chile faces significant energy curtailments due to transmission bottlenecks and a lack of system flexibility, with 2024 curtailments reaching 19% of solar and wind generation. The document argues that while large infrastructure projects like the Kimal-Lo Aguirre line are planned for 2029, immediate action is needed through a 'Clean Flexibility Kit' including battery storage, Dynamic Line Rating (DLR), and demand response markets. It compares Chile's situation with other high-renewable systems like China, Ireland, and California to provide a roadmap of short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations to improve grid efficiency and reduce economic losses for investors.

• Solar and wind energy curtailments in Chile reached 5,642 GWh in 2024, representing 19% of the total electricity supplied by these technologies and 6.6% of Chile's total electricity generation.
• Curtailments have caused significant financial losses for generators, totaling $562 million USD between January 2022 and May 2025, as renewable generators receive no compensation for wasted energy.
• Chile's high curtailment rates are primarily due to its geography, which requires long transmission lines, and a transition strategy that prioritized generation capacity over flexibility tools and transmission expansion.
• Adding 1 GW of battery energy storage (BESS) with 4-hour duration in high-congestion areas could reduce annual curtailments by nearly a quarter, avoiding 1,300 GWh of waste and saving $67.6 million USD per year.
• The implementation of Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) could increase effective transmission line capacity by 10% to 30% and could be deployed nationally in less than three years.
• Major transmission projects to alleviate curtailments, such as the 1,400 km Kimal-Lo Aguirre HVDC line and the Nueva Maitencillo - Nueva Pan de Azúcar line, are not expected to be operational until 2029.
• Chile's curtailment levels are significantly higher than other systems with similar renewable penetration; for example, with 34% solar and wind share, Ireland had curtailments around 8%, Germany 4.5%, and Spain 1.2%.
• The document recommends a short-term (under 2 years) strategy including a National Curtailment Reduction Plan and requiring minimum storage (e.g., 10% capacity with 2-hour autonomy) for new projects in high-congestion zones.
• Medium-term recommendations (2-4 years) focus on creating a formal demand response (DR) market and providing incentives for new projects located near high-demand or low-congestion areas.
• Long-term goals (up to 5 years) include the mass implementation of demand response projects and establishing a regulatory framework for electricity exchange markets with Argentina and Peru.

APA

Suárez, W. (2025). Reducir los vertimientos en Chile: una clave para aprovechar al máximo las energías renovables. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/09/ES-Reporte-Reducir-los-vertimientos-en-Chile-una-clave-para-aprovechar-al-maximo-las-energias-renovables-6.pdf

Chicago

Suárez, Wilmar. Reducir los vertimientos en Chile: una clave para aprovechar al máximo las energías renovables. Ember, 2025. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/09/ES-Reporte-Reducir-los-vertimientos-en-Chile-una-clave-para-aprovechar-al-maximo-las-energias-renovables-6.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Suárez |first1=Wilmar |title=Reducir los vertimientos en Chile: una clave para aprovechar al máximo las energías renovables |publisher=Ember |date=25 September 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/09/ES-Reporte-Reducir-los-vertimientos-en-Chile-una-clave-para-aprovechar-al-maximo-las-energias-renovables-6.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{surez2025reducir, author = {Suárez, Wilmar}, title = {{Reducir los vertimientos en Chile: una clave para aprovechar al máximo las energías renovables}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/09/ES-Reporte-Reducir-los-vertimientos-en-Chile-una-clave-para-aprovechar-al-maximo-las-energias-renovables-6.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }