Build-out of 1.3 GW wind and solar platform in Chile progresses

Mainstream has started constructing the transmission lines for the second phase of its 1.3 gigawatt ‘Andes Renovables’ wind and solar power generation platform in Chile.

The company signed agreements with Siemens, Transelec, Inprolec and Isotron for the construction of 126.8 kilometres of transmission lines, which will link its 630 MW ‘Huemul’ portfolio of five wind and solar assets to Chile’s national grid.

The company has been working very closely with its equipment suppliers, contractors and banks on a robust schedule to bring the Huemul portfolio of assets to financial close during the third quarter of 2020.

Turbine supply agreements, solar plant EPC agreements and Balance of Plant contracts have been signed with contractors, including Vestas, SGRE, Metka, Sterling and Wilson, Sacyr and Elecnor.

Mainstream’s wholly owned and fully contracted 1.3 GW Andes Renovables platform of generation assets consists of three portfolios.

The first – ‘Condor’ (570 MW) – reached financial close in November 2019, and is now six months into construction. The second portfolio – Huemul (630 MW) – is on track to reach financial close during Q3 2020.

Manuel Tagle, General Manager of Mainstream Renewable Power for Chile and Latin America, said: “We are making solid progress on the construction of our four Condor portfolio assets, and we are on track to bring the Huemul portfolio of five assets to financial close this summer.

“We are operating in challenging times, but we are fully committed to our long-term investment plans in Chile. The country has enormous potential for the growth of renewable energy, and we are proud to be contributing to building a more sustainable future for all.”

• The Huemul portfolio’s generation capacity will power the equivalent of 780,000 Chilean households, and represents an emissions saving of more than 744,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.