Consortium formed to develop commercial-scale offshore wind in Chile

Together, the companies have formed the Viento Azul Biobío consortium, to develop a 500 MW to 1 GW offshore wind project offshore Biobío, one of 16 regions in the country, which is the third most populated region in Chile.

The consortium says it is ‘technology agnostic’ about the kind of offshore windfarm it develops, but notes the water depths in the region are favourable for floating wind technology.

The consortium is targeting an operating date in the early 2030s, and anticipates the project will take a minimum of seven years to develop.

It notes Biobío has what it described as “a favourable wind resource with potential to help decarbonise power generation” and benefits from proximity to electricity demand centres, some of the best ports in Latin America and synergies with the retirement of coal power plants in the area.

The area also has a strong electrical infrastructure and what the consortium describes as “high potential for green industry growth.”

17 Energy director Daniel Perdomo said, “This is a pivotal moment for Chile’s energy future. The Viento Azul Biobío consortium is committed to building a strong, sustainable offshore wind industry that creates jobs, drives economic growth, and protects the environment. We are taking the first steps in our journey to realising offshore wind in Chile.”

SC Power stakeholder manager Rodrigo Corvalán said, “We believe offshore wind can be a catalyst for transformation in Chile. By working collaboratively with stakeholders and communities, we can develop projects that not only generate clean energy but also empower local communities, create new opportunities for industry and businesses and secure the future for our next generations.”