SANTIAGO — Once again, Chilean students have taken to the streets to protest the…
Northern Chile Holds “World’s Greatest Energy Resource”
SANTIAGO — A U.S. ecologist and energy expert, Patrick McCully, has claimed that northern Chile has the largest energy resource in the world – solar power. Unfortunately, governments do not know how to make the most of it. Speaking to Efe he said, “Chile is lucky not to have petrol and coal, serious polluters, but unfortunately [...]
Chilean politicians try to moderate rising food and gas prices
SANTIAGO – Just about anyone who drives a car, takes the bus or shops at a local produce market in Chile has probably noticed things getting more expensive recently. Gas prices have risen very quickly over the last couple of months and this, in turn, has caused many public transportation companies to raise their fares. [...]
Wireless energy for the wide world
PUERTO MONTT – It all started as an eager dream to bring sustainable energy to rural areas of South America. Taking all his savings and speaking minimal Spanish, Nelson Steven came to Chile to see if he would find an opportunity to deliver sustainable, wireless energy products that would help to develop and support the [...]
Chilean who built world’s largest swimming pool shares findings in Abu Dhabi
SANTIAGO – Fernando Fischmann, founder and CEO of Crystal Lagoons Corp, an energy-efficient swimming pool company, presented at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) about sustainable cooling methods. In a day and age where global warming presents great challenges, Crystal Lagoons plays an important role. Their new type of cooling eliminates a large amount of [...]
Energía Austral court appeal rejected
COYAHIQUE- The Court of Appeal in Coyahique has rejected a bid by energy company Energía Austral to have an injunction against them. The stay-of-action order was declared on January 9th and has stalled the Environmental Evaluation Committee vote on the Rio Cuero project. The injunction was brought before the court by representatives from across the [...]
Renewable energy sources are a must, Piñera says
SANTIAGO — On Jan. 17, President Sebastián Piñera announced that Chile’s ever-growing economy and vast urbanization are creating strains on energy production. Currently, Chile experiences a 6-7 percent increase in energy demand yearly. Meanwhile, energy supplies are not keeping up. The country is working to move away from reliance on fossil fuels, gas, oil and [...]
HidroAysén dam vote stalled until January 18
SANTIAGO — The debate about the $10 billion HidroAysén dams is far from complete. For about a year, Energía Austral, which is carrying out the HidroAysén project, has been planning to build three hydroelectric dams (Cuervo, Blanco and Cóndor) in the Aysén region of Chile’s Patagonia. Currently their business interests conflict with “Right to Life” interests of the Aysén people. The building of the [...]
President Piñera outlines energy strategy for next 20 years
SANTIAGO – President Piñera has publicly outlined the next twenty years of Chilean energy policy as one that centers on “cleaner, safer, more cost-effective energy that meets the increasing demands of our country”. Accompanied by his Minister of Energy, Rodrigo Álvarez, Piñera attended the 2012 Annual Energy Dinner where he announced the way in which he intends to [...]
Atacama Solar Race launched in Santiago
SANTIAGO- While the Dakar Rally today left Chile, a different type of race was launched in Santiago. November 2012 will bring the second Atacama Solar Challenge. The first edition of the event was held in October 2011, being won by Chilean team Antakari. The race brings together teams from across South America, using the strong solar [...]
Power cuts for northern Chile expected through March
ARICA — According to the Minister for Energy Rodrigo Alvarez, an electricity failure in central Tarapacá is behind the electricity shortages in the far north of Chile. Accompanying Regional Governor Luz Ebensperguer, the Minister announced that power shortages could be expected in the region until March 2012. The electricity rationing is expected to occur between 12 [...]