Chile’s installed renewable energy capacity reached 20,006 MW in May 2026, equivalent to 52% of the country’s total generation capacity, according to the June monthly report published by the National Energy Commission (CNE). Of this total, 12,184 MW corresponds to photovoltaic solar energy, which represents approximately 61% of the installed renewable energy capacity.
Nearly all clean energy capacity is connected to the National Electric System (SEN), totaling 19,964 MW. The remainder will be distributed between the Aysén Electric System (30 MW) and the Magallanes System (12 MW). In addition to solar PV, the operational renewable energy fleet includes 6,310 MW of wind power, 666 MW of biomass, 654 MW of small hydropower, 108 MW of concentrated solar power and 84 MW of geothermal capacity.
The CNE lists 185 renewable energy projects under construction, with a total of 4,176 MW. Solar PV accounts for 3,768 MW, or about 90% of the pipeline. Wind projects represent 370 MW, while small hydro projects total 35 MW.
In April, SEN generated 6,944 GWh, of which 3,284 GWh came from renewable energy plants, representing 47.3% of total generation. Within NCRE production, solar energy contributed 1,825 GWh, or 55.6%. Wind generated 1,071 GWh, followed by biomass (230 GWh), small hydropower (142 GWh), geothermal energy (10 GWh) and CSP (6 GWh).
In April, the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) accepted two new renewable energy projects for assessment, totaling 330 MW and $640 million in investments. Both include energy storage: the 240 MW Las Lilas wind farm ($510 million) and the 90 MW Loma Verde Solar PV project ($130 million).
As of May, the SEA had 86 renewable energy projects under environmental assessment, with a total of 11,784 MW and $44.28 billion in investments. Of these, 64 are solar PV, 20 wind energy, one small hydropower project and one biomass project. Solar energy accounts for 52% of the capacity under evaluation, while wind energy represents 48%.
In April, the SEA issued environmental approvals for two solar PV projects totaling 213 MW and US$265 million. These include the 15 MW Sol de Oro PV plant, developed by Solarig Development Chile in the Coquimbo region, and the 198 MW Pillancó PV park, developed by Pillanco SpA in the Maule region. Both projects include energy storage components.
Distributed generation systems registered under Law 20,571 reached a cumulative capacity of 501,792 kW in May 2026, distributed across 41,962 installations. During the month, 661 new systems were added, totaling 10,332 kW, representing an 18% decrease in the number of installations and a 7% decrease in capacity compared to the previous month.
The metropolitan region leads in cumulative distributed generation capacity with 145,483 kW, followed by Valparaíso (74,624 kW), O’Higgins (60,854 kW) and Maule (59,833 kW). Distributed generation refers to self-generation based on renewable energy sources and efficient cogeneration, which allows surplus electricity to be sold to distributors at a regulated rate.
