Chile

Highlights in 2019
Highlights in 2019

 

High impact innovation activity triggered by MI

In 2019 Chile launched a call for the first Chilean Clean Technology Institute that will be the largest research initiative of Chile and will be focused on solar energy, green hydrogen and energy storage based on lithium solutions. In partnership between public institutions, national and international companies and universities, this initiative is a result of the shared issues discussed under the framework of MI and national priorities.


Impact of your national clean energy innovation activity

From the beginning of Mission Innovation in 2015 Chile has started its energy transition process. From then Chile has increased its renewable energy generation, electromobility has played an important role, and hydrogen and batteries based on lithium were identified as the most important energy carriers for the next years. Chile has also committed to two relevant challenges: decarbonization of the electrical matrix by 2040 and carbon neutrality by 2050. To accomplish those national goals, the innovation is the key enabler for Chile’s economic and social progress and Mission Innovation the hub for cooperation and sharing experiences.


Update on clean energy innovation policies and strategies

Last year the Chilean Ministry of Energy launched both a long-term Energy Policy by 2050 and a short-term Energy Roadmap by 2022. These are the guidelines for the Chilean energy transition model, moving forward to the carbon neutrality. It recognizes that scientific and technological progress is one of the keys for this process by taking advantage of innovative solutions, as new clean sources for electricity and heat, energy storage alternatives, green hydrogen, electromobility, electricity demand side management, and a number of options that will be available to contribute to Chile’s economic and social progress.

The Chilean strategy is to continue with the most relevant energy innovations programs. In 2019 a call was launched for the first Chilean Clean Technology Institute, including solar energy, storage and hydrogen applied research in a partnership with the government, private companies and research groups. Chile is also given the continuity to technology developments by researching in new photovoltaic solar panels specially designed for high radiation conditions and also in new hydrogen solutions as an energy carrier for mining transportation.


Major innovation initiatives and programmes in 2019/20

One of the Chilean innovation key initiative is the development of a new photovoltaic system so-called AtaMoS-TeC (Atacama Module and System Technology Center). The AtaMoS-TeC brings together the government and in partnership national and international companies and technology centres, a portfolio of research, development and innovation projects, to adapt a new photovoltaic system designed specifically for high radiation and desert conditions, covering a gap between the knowledge of its own features for solar power generation and the needs of the Chilean desert.

Another initiative started in 2018 is focused on the use of hydrogen as an energy vector, produced by clean sources as wind and solar power for mining transportation. Two international consortia are researching new low emissions mining extraction trucks powered by mixing hydrogen and diesel and by powering others mining vehicles incorporating fuel cells to significantly decrease diesel consumption.

In 2019 the Chilean government launched a call for the Chilean Clean Technology Institute. The focus of the Institute will be energy and green mining, including applied research in solar energy, green hydrogen and energy storage based on lithium solutions. This will be the largest research initiative fostered by the country.


Private sector engagement in 2019/20

Chile has decided to engage the private sector by implementing a model that includes funds managed by the government to promote the creation of private consortiums focused on applied research for solutions leading to the carbon neutrality.

The initiatives are the establishment of the Chilean Clean Technology Institute, focused on solar energy, green hydrogen and energy storage based on lithium solutions; and the first Technology Program focused on electromobility developments emphasizing on inter-operability solutions.

Both programs are expected to be awarded by 2020.


Major activities in support of the Innovation Challenges in 2019/20

In 2019 Chile participated in the workshop of Hydrogen (IC8) with the presence of the Chilean Economic Development Agency and the Chilean Hydrogen Association, in order to present the potential of Chile to become a “Hydrogen Valley”. Chile has worked closely with companies to identify projects to implement the Hydrogen Valley approach, what will be part of the Chilean strategy for Hydrogen development that will launched by 2020

During COP25 Chile organized the Energy Day in which a “MI focused” panel on Hydrogen (IC8) was held featuring representatives from Australia, Chile, and Germany (strong links to IC8). In the same day the Ministerial Plenary was held with the participation of the Chilean Minister of Energy.


Other Mission Innovation related activity in 2019/20

In 2019 a coordination between StartUp Chile Programme and the Solar and Energy Innovation Committee launched a call to accelerate innovative projects with a special focus on clean energy technologies. The call was made in the frame of Mission Innovation and all applications from MI countries were welcome, having more than ten clean energy start-ups from all over the world awarded to start the program by 2020.

Also in July 2019, Chile organized an event called “Time for innovation on our way to COP 25” with the MI partner Swedish institution RISE, as a preparation for COP25. The StartUp Chile call was launched and also the first start-ups that have being evaluated under the RISE’s 1.5 Compatible Solution Framework were announced.


National plans and priorities for clean energy innovation

Chile has recently announced two national challenges in the energy sector: the decarbonisation of the electricity matrix by 2040 and the carbon neutrality by 2050. Both challenges will need innovative solutions to achieve them, fostering a massive deployment of electromobility, hydrogen for transportation and industrial processes, more photovoltaics and concentrated solar power, bulk energy storage to allow renewables a major participation in the energy matrix maintaining the stability of the system, among other clean energy solutions.