The controversial $10 billion Patagonian HidroAysen hydroelectric mega-dam approved in May by the Chilean government has recently had a Chilean appeals court in Puerto Montt vote 3 to 1 to reject seven lawsuits filed against it, with supporters of blocking it vowing to appeal to the country’s Supreme court.

The lawsuits were brought querying the legality of the government’s environmental review process and cited numerous procedural irregularities and alleged conflicts of interest.

After the Puerto Montt appeals court ruling was made public, Patagonia Sin Represas, a citizen’s group opposed to the project, said that the court decision would now be appealed to the Supreme Court, Coyhaique’s daily Diario el Divisadero reported.

The Patagonian HidroAysen hydroelectric project is a joint venture between Chilean energy company Colbun and the Spanish Endesa energy company, a part of Enel. The HidroAysen hydroelectric facility would install five dams on two of Chile’s largest rivers, the Baker and Pascua rivers in Patagonia’s southern Aysen Region XI, and would be the largest dam project ever built in Chile.

In addition to the hydroelectric cascades, the project also includes constructing 1,243 miles of electrical transmission lines to convey HidroAysen electricity to central and northern Chile.

Article by Charles Kennedy, appearing courtesy OilPrice.com.

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BAL Chile SA is currently farming algae on Chiloé Island eventually to produce biofuels for industrial use.

BAL Chile SA CEO Benjamin González said, “Within the next five years we expect to be producing at commercial scale. At present, BAL is developing algae farming on the island of Chiloé and we are looking for alternatives to expand our testing in the north. There has been significant algae productivity improvements and cost reductions,” adding that by 2013 “the company expects to achieve the necessary production parameters for the commercial viability of the production of carbohydrates based on seaweed aquaculture farming.”

As macro-algae grow in the water, they do not have lignin, a compound in which plants tend to store sugars and that makes bio-disposition difficult but González noted of his company’s efforts, ”This, together with the enzymes produced by the microbes developed by BAL, makes entry easier and more economical to these sugars,” Mercopress reported.

According to González, BAL has partnered with U.S. firm DuPont and Norway’s Statoil to proceed, while garnering fiscal underwriting from various global private equity firms, including X/Seed (California), Chioe’s Capital Austral, Norway’s Energy Capital Management, the U.S. Department of Energy and Chilean firm Innova Corfo.

Article by Charles Kennedy, appearing courtesy OilPrice.com

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Chile has some of the best conditions available for the growing cleantech industry. There are many opportunities for companies within the sectors of waste management and renewable energy. A lot of the focus of cleantech in Chile is on renewable energy forms, including biomass, solar energy, wind, and hydro power. There is also a growing involvement in environmental technologies including waste and waste water, energy efficiency, and environmental quality. Because of the open economy, guarantees to foreign investors, and free market policies, Chile is becoming more of the most competitive countries for cleantech investment.

1) Chilean Agency for Energy Efficiency. Also known as AchEE, the Chilean Agency for Energy Efficiency seeks to establish institutional foundations required and the regulatory framework needed for energy efficiency, create incentives and tools to promote energy efficiency, introduce energy efficiency to formal and informal levels of training, use international experiences to increase energy efficiency development, and strengthen current institutional management. AchEE works alongside the citizens of Chile to educate them on energy efficiency and why it is essential. AchEE wants to optimize overall energy consumption for all the different sectors and supply the required tools for energy efficiency measure implementation.

2) National Commission of Energy. In Chlie, the National Commission of Energy is in charge of energy systems regulations. The objective is to guarantee effective competition of all energy systems and complete transparency. They have done a lot of energy analysis to find the best way for Chile to conserve energy in a cost effective manner. They have also published documents concerning the Kyoto Protocol and greenhouse gas emissions.

3) Canela II. In 2009, Chile began the new wind farm known as Canela II. Through the usage of wind energy, Chile looks to displace just about 90,000 tons of CO2 emissions every year. The project was developed by Endesa Eco. Endesa Eco is dedicated to the development and promotion of renewable energy, including with wind farms, biomass and solar power plants, and mini-hydroelectric plants. There are a total of 40 wind turbines currently in Canela II and they generate 60 MW and is proving to be a possible viable source of future energy consumption.

4) Chile Biofuels Technology. To reduce increased dependence on fossil fuels, Chile has been giving increased intention to biofuel technology. Currently, Chile needs to import more than 70% of their fuel as coal, gas, and oil. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, Chile hopes it will also alleviate their current air pollution problems. There are more than 170,000 hectares available in Chile for the production of raw materials which would be used for the production of biodiesel and ethanol. Currently, Chile produces a number of crops that can be used for ethanol, including wheat, corn, and sugar beet. The government is dedicated to the development of a sustainable biofuels industry. Currently, more an $1 million has been dedicated to this task just from within Chile.

5) Algae Biofuel. Chile has invested more than $30 million to the research and development of algae biofuel technology. With the large Chilean coast, it makes for a perfect location to set up biofuel production of both micro and macroalgae. Because it does not require the usage of land fertilizer, and irrigation water, it is a better option for Chile as it will not take away land from their agricultural sector.

6) Empresas Copec. Empresas Copec is known for its investment in natural resources and energy. It is popular in the distribution of electric power generation, liquid fuels, and liquefied petroleum gas. Empresas Coped believes that taking care of the current environment is not a short-term ideal, but a long-term policy. They have numerous policies surrounding the industries of forestry, fuels, and electric powers to promote complete environmental safety.

7) Green Volt. Green Volt is a Chilean company dedicated to providing energy services, energy consultation, carbon footprint calculation, energy feasibility studies, financial advisory projects, and project implementation of energy saving measure. They do quantitative and qualitative analysis of current energy systems and provide solutions for optimizing the consumption of energy by industries, businesses, and buildings. Green Volt offers a number of services, including energy efficiency, non-conventional renewable energy, and carbon footprint. Most clients of Green Volt want to reduce their energy bills and want to take part in energy saving expenditures. Green Volt will assist clients in reducing energy costs by five to 35%, decreasing energy dependence, and reduction of emissions.

8 ) CORFO. CORFO is an investment firm in Chile that looks to assist the country in growing the innovative companies by supporting projects that make it easy to grow Chile’s national and international aspirations. Currently CORFO, has been investing a lot of money into the renewable energy sector of Chile. CORFO presently have more than 100 projects in various stages of development that are to assist in renewable energy.

9) Laws and Regulations. Chile passed the Renewable Electricity Law in 2008 which states that a minimum of 5% of all electricity sources must come from various renewable energy sources by 2010. After that, each year, it must rise by 0.5% until the goal of 10% is reached by 2024. There have also been amendments to the current Electricity Act which now allows for generation projects that are based on renewable sources.

10) Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas. As a partner of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, Chile is dedicated to energy efficiency, cleaner and more efficient fossil fuel usage, renewable energy, and renewable energy infrastructure. As a partner, Chile contributes all their resources to implement the listed initiatives.

Article by Shawn Lesser, president and founder of Atlanta-based Sustainable World Capital, which is focused on fund-raising for private equity cleantech/sustainable funds, as well as private cleantech companies and M&A. He is also a co- founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association, and can be reached at shawn.lesser@sworldcap.com

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When most people look out on the hot, dry desert, they see the potential for a serious sunburn and probably a mirage or two. When Chilean entrepreneur Mario Llanis looks out on the cactus-riddled desert of his native country, he sees the possibility for a bio-energy source that could change the industry forever.

If you’ve got about 5 minutes, check out this video from Global Post about Llanis’ dream for a world powered by the prickly-pear cactus. This idea could have significant implications for the global bio-energy industry, as the prickly-pear cactus is native of Mexico, United Sates and South America but it grows very well all around the world, including Australia Africa and in the Mediterranean.

Article by Beth Buczynski, appearing courtesy Crisp Green

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A nanorobot which defends a single cell against dangers such as the AIDS virus or H1N1 is the main character of a video game about molecular biology that is being developed by the Universidad Santo Tomas, in Chile.

Kokori, which means “collective game” in Rapanui (the language spoken in Easter Island), is one of six projects that won 2.3 million dollars in a contest about applying informative technology for educational purposes, organized by the National Commission of Scientific and Technological Research.

Of the six projects, Kokori, which uses information taught at the high school level biology, won $424,000.

Virginia Garretón, director of the project, also mentioned that the cell would also face obstacles such as bacteria, which the nanorobot would have to fend off using antibiotics as weapons. Lack of nourishment or attacks from toxic compounds or carcinogens will also pose threats.

The structure and function of the cell would also be included in the game, as a response to suggestions from biology teachers that were polled.

The game will be developed based on free distribution software for use on any platform (Linux, Windows, etc.) and will have little technological requirements.

Article appearing courtesy ENN.

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For thousands of years, the native Aymara people have been harvesting scarcely fallen raindrops along the Andean foothills in northern Chile by capturing the rainwater in nets for irrigation and drinking purposes. The people in this region, in and around the Atacama desert, are accustomed to fragile ecosystems and an extremely dry climate. However, today, even in the fertile central and southern regions of Chile, there are noticeable tensions over water rights and water availability.

Presently, it is not as if there are times when nothing flows out of the tap here. Nor are the urban folks of Santiago running outside their homes with their own polypropylene mesh nets ready to catch any drop of rain that falls. However, a convergence of factors – an increase in population growth, perceptible changes in climate patterns, and competition for water resources between various industries and hydro power – have caused a national “war over water” of sorts to emerge at the forefront of national environmental, economic, and political discussions.

Climate Change Impacts

Recent studies by Chilean scientists convey climate change could create huge challenges for the country’s expected water availability. The models show projected temperature increases of 1C to 1.5C and a drop in rainfall of at least 10 to 15% in the next 40 years. In addition, the 4^th IPCC Assessment, from 2007, documents:

1. dramatic reductions that have already occurred in the volumes of Chile’s glaciers over recent years,
2. an increase in the presence of hanta virus after prolonged droughts, and
3. more erratic weather activities associated with the El Niño and La Niña cyclical phenomena.

Projections from this assessment also reveal restrictions in the country’s hydro availability in the central zone in the coming years, as well as increased salinity and desertification in Chile’s northern zones

These changes would have a particularly strong impact on Chile’s internationally beloved breadbasket, its prominent agriculture and wine production from the fertile central region. While Chile is not as dependent on Andean glacial run-off for its fresh water supply as neighboring Peru and Bolivia, the natural water supplies from melting snow on the Andes are essential for Chile’s agricultural sector, forestry sector, fruits, and the vines that produce the exquisite wine.

Currently, changing climate patterns, manifested in more frequent and prolonged droughts in the central region, have had the greatest impact in diminished reserves for hydroelectric supplies. Such hydroelectricity has, historically, been Chile’s predominant energy source and, presently accounts for around 40% of Chile’s total installed electricity capacity.

The central region is also home to approximately two-thirds of the country’s 16.6 million inhabitants. Therefore, the reduction in water supplies is concern for potable water treatment and purification companies. One study, headed by Sebastián Vicuña of the Catholic University of Chile’s “Center for Global Change,” discovered that, with a 10-15% reduction in rain levels, the water of the Maipo River – by far the greatest source of drinking water and irrigation for Santiago and the region – would be diminished by 70% by 2065, from 170 cubic meters a second to not more than 60.

Opportunities for Clean Tech Water Technology Transfer

Although Chile has had a unique (and, sometimes successful) free market in the buying and trading of water rights since the framework was first implemented in 1981, even ardent supporters of this unfettered water market see its current and future limitations of oncoming climate challenges and growing industrial needs. The Director General of Water with Chile’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP), Rodrigo Weisner, has stated that even though there is a high level of justice in resolving water disputes in Chile, there are also inadequacies with the system of environmental impact assessments (EIAs), for example. Weisner also points out that current legal mechanisms do not allow for a middle ground between winners in losers in such disputes. Many would argue that, simply, those interests with the deepest pockets are usually the winners of such disputed water supplies.

Even still, beyond economics, what would most likely help resolve water dilemmas in Chile, and in a growing number of water-pressed countries around the globe, are infrastructure improvements from new “clean” water technologies.

In early July 2009, Chile’s state MOP declared that it is presently analyzing ways to promote seawater desalination investment projects in the country’s five northern regions. Large enterprises that have reportedly shown serious interest in desalination activities in Chile have reportedly been BHP Billiton, Spain’s Agbar and even General Electric. With 4,000 km of coastline, it would seem there is no shortage of business opportunities in Chile for emerging desalination technologies, either developed locally or abroad. In addition, The MOP has also investigated the use of “tertiary wastewater treatment” for increasing efficiency in local water utilities. And, in June, the Chilean government established a separate inter-ministry committee for water policies and investments alone.

As Tina Ngo wrote in a previous blog entry on CleanTechies, the water crisis may not receive as much press coverage as the current energy crisis, but, quite soon, there will most likely be just as many “cleantech” opportunities for water treatment and conservation technologies as in producing and harnessing new forms of energy. For an example of innovative approaches to resolving water issues look at the prize competitions of California-based ImagineH2O.

Chile is an example of emerging water debates soon to play out around the globe. So, if we want to continue indulging in the fruits of Chilean wines, as well as potentially our own drinking water, we look forward to increased capital investment and interest in novel, cost-effective water treatment technologies.

[photo credit: malia_mi, LanceCheungImages, steeveleenow]

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“No doubts remain. Climate change is real and the build-up of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is increasingly at an alarming rate.” With these words, Rafael Quiroga, General Manager of Accion RSE, initiated the seminar “Corporate Strategic Management of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions.” This is not another “green business” seminar from a European or North American city, it took place here — in Santiago, Chile.

The event brought together speakers from the Chilean private sector that gave concrete examples of their companies’ climate change and GHG management initiatives. First, it showed how Essbio, a water purification company, has been dealing with the ever-prescient and escalating challenges of decreasing water reserves due to climate change.  Second, it illustrated the emissions and energy reductions Xstrata Copper, a mining company, has committed to and the steps it has taken to minimize the release of contaminants in its industrial processes. Third, it explained what Natura cosmetics has done since 2007 to become a “carbon neutral” business by calculating all GHG emissions in the company’s supply chain, transportation, and production of its various cosmetics products, and purchasing the equivalent amount of CO2 tonnage in carbon credits on the international carbon markets.

Although Chile is officially considered an Annex B, “developing” country under the dual classification of the Kyoto Protocol, the smaller country of 16 million inhabitants has been no stranger to addressing the climate change issue in recent years. In addition to private companies’ activities noted above, Chile has also completed some 40 projects via the Kyoto Protocol’s CDM market since 2004. These 40 projects have ranged from landfill methane gas capture, to a nationwide energy efficiency CFL lightbulbs installation project, to agricultural methane capture, and to a wind energy project – yielding a total of US$300 million in traded carbon credits for Chilean enterprises.

Moreover, in early December 2008, President Bachelet, alongside her Environment Minister, unveiled Chile’s official “National Climate Change Action Plan” for 2008-2012. The plan includes activities for

1) studying impacts and vulnerabilities,
2) funding adaptation measures, and
3) strong support for mitigation endeavors, including the creation of a Center for Renewable Energy, establishing an increase of funds for a national energy efficiency program, further studies into harvesting biofuels, and increasing bicycle lanes for transport.

Although, historically, Chile has not contributed much to the total build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – actually 0.2% of total global GHG emissions for the last year tallied, 2004 – the country would like to see itself as a Latin American forerunner on confronting the issue.  President Bachelet’s new Action Plan not only concretely addresses the country’s increasing climate change concerns, but also demonstrates to the international community that Chile, too, is progressive and environmentally conscientious.

However, even with the formidable growth in the renewable energy sector, and a bit less so in CSR and ‘green business strategy,’ in Chile over the past 3-4 years, there is still an internal conflict and complexity as to how the “green” the country is truly progressing. As Mr. Quiroga pointed out at the seminar, Chile’s growth rate of GHG emissions in the past 10 years has been among the highest on the planet, alongside that of China and India. The main culprits for this have been

1) the booming energy intensive mining sector,
2) an increase in automobile use with economic growth, and,
3) an increased reliance on coal in recent years with disruptions in imported gas supplies from Argentina.

One recent study from the University of Chile actually found that Chile’s national GHG footprint is projected to jump 4.2 times its current amount by 2030.  This conclusion assumes the country continues on its current pace and manner of economic development, and with the increased reliance on new coal plants that are currently in different stages of construction.

So, yes, not only are the effects of climate change real in Chile but so too is a growing movement and public consciousness to reduce people’s and companies’ carbon footprints. In addition to Essbio, Xstrata, and Natura, there are other enterprises in Chile making efforts to reduce GHG emissions in their industrial processes or take action in other local environmental issues.  Yet, it is safe to say that such “climate change conscious” companies are still a small minority here in Chile.  And, even though President Bachelet and the Minister of Energy are making genuine, good-faith efforts to bring the latest solar and geothermal energy technology to Chile such as with partnerships with California and the US Department of Energy, the situation of increasing national GHG emissions reveals a deeper complexity we all need to address:

How can a middle-income economy, such as Chile, afford the latest in clean and renewable energy technology to reduce its climate change footprint, while at the same time, continuing to address more pressing needs of economic and social development?

In other words, a country such as Chile still needs to put its food on the table by mining the copper, whether imported gas or a cheaper “clean” energy solution is currently available; and, if they are not available, a bunch of coal will certainly do.

[photo credit: Cheo!]

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Chile is essentially a very long coast, with mountains in the back with nice people between the two that have set up the most stable state in Latin America. A great environment to install wind turbines. If you add to that the presence of enough local skilled workers, with a good safety culture – essential in the industry – that comes from the mining sector, and a good grid, then you would for sure assume that there are already plenty of wind farms up and running.

Well no. As of last December, only one was operational: a mere 18 MW owned by Endesa (of all utilities). The main reason of this seems to be the lack of a wind cartography.

But the government is supporting the industry with a target of 15% non conventional renewable energy by 2010. This backing is particularly consensual since Argentina has proved to be extremely unreliable as an intermediary in the supply of natural gas from Bolivia. Hence, aside from LNG terminal being developed, the government and private developers are now performing wind measurements campaigns and signing purchasing contract for turbines.

This is still a burgeoning market, hence there are plenty of opportunities to seize both offshore and onshore, also in carbon credit origination. And not only in wind.

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