Solar in the Atacama Desert

NRDC Chile Facts: Building a Brighter Future

By: 
Natural Resources Defense Council
Date: 
Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Realizing Chile's Potential to Become a Leader in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

The following is a report published by Natural Resources Defense Council as part of their Save Bio gems Campaign.

Executive Summary

"Chile’s energy sector is at a turning point. It has enormous potential to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency to become a global leader. The country can take advantage of its remarkable and varied natural resources, as well as its expanding economy to foster growth in its renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. Or Chile can continue to rely on conventional energy sources—dirty fossil fuels and destructive large hydropower—to meet the growing electricity requirements of its residents and industries. With the government projecting the national energy demand to double from 2010 to 2020 and triple from 2010 to 2030, the decisions Chile makes now will either unlock its potential for a diversified clean energy portfolio, or lock the country
into a risky and polluting future."