Chile’s renewable energy installed capacity reached 20,006 MW in May 2026, equivalent to 52% of the country’s total generation capacity, according to the June Monthly Report published by the National Energy Commission (CNE). Of this total, 12,184 MW corresponds to solar photovoltaic, representing around 61% of installed renewables capacity.
Almost all clean energy capacity is connected to the National Electric System (SEN), totaling 19,964 MW. The remainder is distributed across the Aysén Electric System (30 MW) and the Magallanes System (12 MW). In addition to solar PV, the operational renewable energy fleet includes 6,310 MW of wind, 666 MW of biomass, 654 MW of run-of-river small hydro, 108 MW of concentrated solar power, and 84 MW of geothermal capacity.
The CNE lists 185 renewable energy projects under construction, totaling 4,176 MW. Solar PV accounts for 3,768 MW, or roughly 90% of the pipeline. Wind projects represent 370 MW, while small hydro projects total 35 MW.
In April, the SEN generated 6,944 GWh, of which 3,284 GWh came from renewable energy plants, representing 47.3% of total generation. Within NCRE output, solar PV contributed 1,825 GWh, or 55.6%. Wind generated 1,071 GWh, followed by biomass (230 GWh), small hydro (142 GWh), geothermal (10 GWh), and CSP (6 GWh).
In April, the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) admitted two new renewable energy projects for review, totaling 330 MW and $640 million in investment. Both include energy storage: the 240 MW Las Lilas Wind Farm ($510 million) and the 90 MW Loma Verde Solar PV project ($130 million).
As of May, the SEA had 86 renewable energy projects under environmental review, totaling 11,784 MW and $44.28 billion in investment. Of these, 64 are solar PV, 20 wind, one small hydro, and one biomass project. Solar accounts for 52% of capacity under evaluation, while wind represents 48%.
In April, the SEA issued environmental approvals for two solar PV projects totaling 213 MW and $265 million. These include the 15 MW Sol de Oro PV plant, developed by Solarig Development Chile in the Coquimbo region, and the 198 MW Pillancó PV park, developed by Pillanco SpA in the Maule region. Both projects include energy storage components.
Distributed generation systems registered under Law 20.571 reached 501,792 kW of cumulative capacity as of May 2026, across 41,962 installations. During the month, 661 new systems were added, totaling 10,332 kW, representing a 18% decline in installations and a 7% decrease in capacity compared with the previous month.
The Metropolitan region leads in cumulative distributed generation capacity with 145,483 kW, followed by Valparaíso (74,624 kW), O’Higgins (60,854 kW), and Maule (59,833 kW). Distributed generation refers to self-generation based on renewable energy sources and efficient cogeneration, allowing surplus electricity to be sold to distributors at a regulated tariff.
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