The curtailment of solar and wind energy in Chile reached 3.2 terawatt-hours (TWh) by August 2025, as reported by Ana Lía Rojas, executive director of the Chilean renewable energy association (ACERA). Speaking at the Energy Storage Summit Latin America 2025 in Santiago, Rojas noted this figure marks a slight increase from the previous year, although the growth rate has slowed compared to the dramatic rise observed between 2023 and 2024, when curtailment surged by 133% to nearly 6TWh.
In 2024, Chile added 2.2TWh of new solar generation capacity, yet the curtailment for solar PV alone increased by 2.7TWh, indicating a significant challenge for the sector. Despite these setbacks, the future of renewable energy in Chile appears promising, with 30.2 gigawatts (GW) of projects having received environmental approval across various technologies. This includes 19.9GW for solar PV and 2.9GW for energy storage solutions, along with an additional 22GW awaiting similar approval, with 6.8GW earmarked for standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Rojas emphasized the importance of increased electricity demand as a critical factor for Chile’s energy landscape. Without it, the nation may encounter similar obstacles to those that have impeded recent technological advancements. She warned that stagnant demand could lead to “cannibalization” across all energy sectors, making a strong case for a comprehensive policy aimed at deep electrification. The Energy Storage Summit continues in Santiago over the next day, focusing on these pressing issues.