Weekly Market Analytics Chile Vol 12 Num 8

VOL 12 | NUM 8 | 12 September 2025

Power Markets Weekly

CHILE | 1 - 7 September 2025

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Glossary

Wind generation in Diego de Almagro reached a weekly plant factor of 44.8%

Global SEN operation

The average price in Polpaico was USD 55.5/MWh, which is 17.4% higher than last week and 36.1% higher than the same week last year.

Marginal cost evolution in Polpaico during past years

Generation registered a decrease in the share of gas and run-of-river by 2.7 pp and 0.7 pp, respectively. Minor declines were also registered in the participation of coal and oil by 0.2 pp and 0.1 pp, respectively.

On the other hand, generation experienced increases in the participation of wind, solar, dam and BESS by 2.1 pp, 1.0 pp, 0.4 pp and 0.2 pp, respectively.

Peak demand occurred on Tuesday at 11 AM, reaching 11.6 GW. At that time, renewables were supplying 75.9% of the peak demand.

This week also marked the commissioning of the Tocopilla BESS, which has a storage capacity of 660 MWh and 116 MW of installed capacity. The facility is in the Crucero zone.

Generation Mix

Variation

Power range by energy sources (average prices)

Learn more about this chart

Generation evolution

Geothermal

Cogeneration

Biomass

Coal

Gas

Oil

BESS

Dam

Run-of-river

Wind

PV Solar

CSP

This week, the system experienced decoupling of three main transmission lines.

The 500 kV Nueva Pan de Azúcar – Polpaico line was congested on every morning except on Thursday and Sunday, as well as during the solar hours on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The 220 kV Charrúa – Santa Clara line was congested on Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon, leading to zero prices in Puerto Montt area.

On Friday morning, the congestion of 220 kV Lastarria – Ciruelos line led to extremely high prices in Puerto Montt, reaching the peak price of USD 220.5/MWh at 11 AM. At that moment, Tricao oil power plant was setting the marginal cost.

Marginal cost evolution

Crucero
USD 39.8/MWh

D. de Almagro
USD 39.5/MWh

Pan de Azúcar
USD 40.3/MWh

Polpaico
USD 55.5/MWh

Charrúa
USD 54.2/MWh

Puerto Montt
USD 54.9/MWh

Solar and Wind production & BESS dispatch

Solar generation increased its system plant factor by 0.7 pp compared to last week, reaching 19.3%. The highest plant factor was in Crucero with 23.0%, while the lowest was in Puerto Mo… no, it was in Polpaico with 15.5%!

Wind generation also increased its system plant factor, in this case by 3.2 pp compared to last week, and reaching 23.6%. The highest plant factor was in Diego de Almagro with 44.8% and the lowest was in Charrúa with 13.6%.

On Friday, the occurrence of the peak price coincided with low generation output in Charrúa and Puerto Montt areas.

BESS injections totaled 37.4 GWh, an increase of 2.9 GWh compared to last week. The highest injections were in Crucero with 29.3 GWh, while the lowest were in Pan de Azúcar with 33 MWh.

The combined curtailment rate for solar and wind generation declined by 2.5 pp compared to last week, reaching 16.0%. Solar curtailment reached 17.0% | 72.2 GWh while wind curtailment was 14.2% | 38.3 GWh.