Renewables Now:

Engie Energia Chile SA launched on Friday the construction phase of its investment plan to install 1,000 MW of renewables, which starts with three projects in the Chilean region of Antofagasta.

Two of the three are already in construction, the Chilean energy company said. These are the 150-MW Calama wind farm and the 100-MWp Capricornio solar park, both slated to begin operations throughout 2021.

Construction of the third project, the 120-MWp Tamaya solar park, is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2020. Engie Chile estimates that the initial investment in the three schemes will reach around USD 300 million (EUR 273.4m).

The strategy is part of the company’s asset rotation plan to replace coal-fired generation units with new renewable energy producing plants. Engie Chile is one of four power producers that signed an agreement with the Chilean government to voluntarily and gradually close coal-based plants, and the first one to take offline its units.

Two units totaling 171 MW at the Tocopilla power plant ceased operations in early June, while two other units, of 132 MW and 136 MW, will be retired starting January 1, 2022.

Engie’s 1,000-MW campaign will represent an investment of USD 1 billion, the company said.

More: Engie Chile kickstarts 1-GW renewables build-out