First offshore wind proposal unveiled in Chile

UK renewable energy startup 17 Energy and Chile’s SC Power are partnering to drive offshore wind development in Chile.

The two companies have formed the Viento Azul Biobío consortium, which plans to develop between 500MW and 1GW of offshore wind in Chile’s Biobío region, about 500km to the south of Santiago, to come online in the early to mid-2030s.

The initiative, a first for Chile and the wider Latin American region, is aimed to support the large-scale decarbonisation of the electricity network to help in the fight against climate change, diversify the country's energy mix and create a sustainable economic foundation, according to a release.

The plan is to work closely with local communities, industry, fisheries and government to develop projects that deliver tangible benefits to Chile.

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"This is a pivotal moment for Chile's energy future," said Daniel Perdomo, Director and co-founder of 17 Energy.

"The Viento Azul Biobío Consortium is committed to building a strong, sustainable offshore wind industry that creates jobs, drives economic growth and protects our environment. Today we are taking our first steps in our journey to realising offshore wind in Chile.”

Rodrigo Corvalán, stakeholder manager at SC Power, added: "We believe that offshore wind can be a catalyst for transformation in Chile. By working collaboratively with stakeholders and communities, we can develop projects that not only generate clean energy but also empower local communities, create new opportunities for industry and businesses and secure the future for our next generations."

The Biobío region, of which the city and port of Concepción is the capital, has a high capacity factor wind resource with potential to help decarbonise night-block power generation and is in proximity to electricity demand centres, including the country’s second-largest industrial hub.

While the technology has not been detailed, the water depth in the region is considered favourable for floating offshore wind.

The project is expected to be operational for 25-30 years with potential for life extensions.

It also is expected to be an enabler for other decarbonisation technologies such as hydrogen and efuels in Chile.

17 Energy, which was launched in March, is co-led by Úna Brosnan, who previously held leadership roles with Mainstream Renewable Power, and Dan Kyle Spearman, who brings offshore wind experience from the Carbon Trust and most recently the Renewables Consulting Group.

SC Power is focused on developing offshore wind projects in South America.