The numbers that define a decade

In just ten years, Chile went from importing fossil fuels to generate 63% of its energy to producing 68% from renewables in 2024.

Throughout 2024, solar and wind alone generated a record 33% of Chile’s electricity, up from 30% in 2023 more than double their 14% share in 2019.

As of May 2025, Chile oversees a total installed power capacity of 37.4 GW, with 25.5 GW over two thirds coming from renewable sources.

Why Chile? Geography as destiny

The Atacama Desert receives more solar radiation per square meter than almost anywhere on Earth. The southern tip of Chile, Magallanes, hosts some of the strongest and most consistent wind resources on the planet. Chile doesn’t have oil. It doesn’t have gas. But it has sun and wind in extraordinary abundance and it has learned to use them.

In 2024, solar power plants delivered 18.6 GWh of energy. There are currently 212 solar projects under construction and 318 approved, with a combined capacity of approximately 20.5 GW in the pipeline.

Storage, transmission, and the next challenge

Chile’s renewable success has created a high-quality problem: too much clean energy in the north, not enough transmission capacity to move it south. In 2024, Chile curtailed nearly 6 TWh of solar and wind power up 121% from the year before because the grid couldn’t absorb it all.

The response is massive investment in transmission infrastructure and energy storage. More than 900 MW of energy storage has already been installed, setting a benchmark for the energy transition in Latin America. And total average annual investment in electricity grids is projected to exceed $1 billion per year through 2035 double recent levels.

Green hydrogen: the next frontier

Chile is one of the countries with the greatest potential to produce green hydrogen made through electrolysis powered by renewable energy. With world-class solar and wind, and copper for the cables and components, Chile is positioning itself as a future exporter of green hydrogen to Europe and Asia. The investment is already flowing.

Energy attracted $38.2 billion in foreign investment projects in InvestChile’s 2025 portfolio by far the largest sector, representing more than half of Chile’s total foreign investment pipeline.

What this means for industrial suppliers

An energy sector growing at this pace creates continuous demand for:

• Electrical components and cabling for generation and transmission projects
• Mechanical parts for wind turbines, solar mounting systems, and substations
• Hydraulic and industrial equipment for construction and maintenance
• Vehicles and spare parts for the fleets maintaining remote generation sites

The Atacama doesn’t wait for slow supply chains. Companies that can deliver reliably to northern Chile where most generation is located have a structural advantage.

BridgeTurco works with international industrial suppliers entering Chile’s energy sector. Let’s talk.