Photo by Juan Pablo Ahumada
Four studies produced by ORE Catapult, the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy, were presented in Santiago this week, setting out recommendations to help Chile build a competitive offshore wind sector. The reports, commissioned by the British Embassy Santiago and funded by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, were unveiled on 12 August at an event opened by British Ambassador to Chile David Concar.
What the studies found
The research concludes that Chile has exceptional conditions to develop a competitive offshore wind industry, but that a range of complementary actions will be needed to translate that potential into actual projects. Key recommendations include strengthening regulatory and permitting frameworks, improving coordination between public institutions, ensuring timely planning of electricity transmission infrastructure, and supporting local workforce and supply chain development. The reports also call for an integrated approach that aligns energy, port and spatial planning within a long-term strategy capable of giving investors certainty.
Ports, seabed leasing, energy policy and transmission network planning were identified as the highest-priority areas for near-term action, according to trade publication 4C Offshore’s coverage of the findings. The reports also recommend Chile establish a national offshore wind strategy to provide stronger coordination across government and give the sector a clearer long-term investment signal.
Regional economic opportunity
The studies point to significant potential for regional economic growth, particularly in revitalising strategic ports, attracting new industrial investment and creating skilled jobs. Industrial regions such as Biobío are highlighted as standing to benefit most from this activity, reflecting the sector’s potential to draw on existing port and manufacturing infrastructure in the region.
Four reports, four areas of focus
The recommendations span four separate published studies: a general set of recommendations for offshore wind development in Chile; a strategic assessment of port capacity; an analysis of skills and workforce needs; and a technical study on HVDC “bootstrap” systems for grid reinforcement and offshore wind integration. All four are drawn on UK experience, site visits to Chile, and consultations with stakeholders from both countries, and are published in full in both English and Spanish.
Next steps
The Santiago event brought together government authorities, industry representatives and academics for a panel discussion titled “Next Steps for Offshore Wind in Chile,” featuring representatives from Chile’s Ministry of Energy, InvestChile, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez and the Centre for the Transition towards Resilient and Autonomous Electric Systems (CENTRA). The stated objective of the initiative is to help create a competitive, scalable market attractive to private investment in Chilean offshore wind.