Seminar: Virtual Power Plants in Chile – Pathways to a Sustainable Future
Seminar: Virtual Power Plants in Chile – Pathways to a Sustainable Future
April 29, 2025 This morning, the Center for Energy Transition (CENTRA) of Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez presented the policy brief “Regulatory and Policy Pathways for Implementing Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) in Chile” at a seminar held in the Entel Room of UAI’s Errázuriz campus, bringing together authorities, academics, and representatives from the electricity sector. The event was led by CENTRA researcher and Director of the Civil…
Lights on the blackouts
April 10, 2025 Experts discuss the causes behind large-scale power outages, the existing gaps to prevent them, and, if they occur, how to quickly restore electricity. Multiple emotional states ran through the eight million Chileans who, on February 25, starting at 3:16 p.m., were affected by an unexpected and widespread power outage—both in terms of surface (from the regions of Arica and Parinacota to Los…
Electrical system reliability: expert analysis of the February 25th blackout was discussed at the UAI 2025 panel discussion.
March 17, 2025 The discussion panel organized by the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences at UAI, in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, focused on a detailed analysis of the reliability and resilience of the national electrical system, using the February 25 blackout as a starting point. During the event, various experts conducted an in-depth examination of the causes of the failure and the challenges…
The role of distributed energy resources in the energy transition – Daniel Olivares
October 30, 2024. The energy transition is a paradigm shift that redefines how we conceive, produce and consume energy. Thomas Kuhn, in his work “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions”, argues that when a system does not solve new problems, ideas that fit the changing reality must be adopted. Although he speaks of scientific paradigms, this can be extrapolated to technological ones. In my opinion, the…
Opinion Column – Daniel Olivares, director of the Energy Transition Center (CENTRA)
September 25th, 2024 A GREATER DISTORTION MR. DIRECTOR: In relation to the controversy in the electricity sector regarding the bill that extends the electricity subsidy, I would like to point out the following: In Chile, Small Distributed Generation Companies (PMGD) can benefit from a special remuneration regime that seeks to stabilize their income in the energy market, considering that, due to their size, they…
Distributed Generation: Among the pillars of the National Electric System
September 25th, 2024 This segment is becoming more important for the country’s energy matrix every year, as it is approaching 3.3 GW of installed power generation, which corresponds to 10% of the SEN’s capacity, according to the latest figures from the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC). When we talk about distributed generation, we must differentiate between the netbilling type, with installations of up…
Academics and generators investigate long-term storage in Chile
August 29th, 2024 Academics and a power generator are investigating the economics of incorporating long-term energy storage systems into Chile’s grid. The results are expected to be known by the middle of next year, but initial conclusions could be presented by the end of January, according to information obtained by BNamericas. The work is being carried out by the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences…
Launch of the CENTRA-EDF Chile Research Chair
August 23, 2024 The research project will focus on exploring solutions for a more efficient and sustainable energy system, with an emphasis on energy storage. In a ceremony attended by leading academics, industrial leaders and government representatives, the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences and the Business School of Adolfo Ibáñez University (UAI), in collaboration with EDF Chile, launched a research project that will focus…
Electricity sector specialists discuss the overcosts of the energy system
August 23, 2024 Industry and academic leaders discussed challenges and opportunities in the energy system. “Optimizing systemic costs: Where are the incentives?” is the panel discussion on energy system cost overruns held by the UAI Energy Transition Center (CENTRA) of the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences of Adolfo Ibáñez University, offering a platform to address challenges and opportunities in the electricity sector. Daniel Olivares,…
The number of people without electricity has increased to 685 million
July 25, 2024 A new report reveals that for the first time in the last decade, the gap in basic energy access has increased, jeopardizing the United Nations’ goal of ensuring that everyone has access to this resource by 2030. Ending poverty, reducing inequality, and building more peaceful and prosperous societies. This is the overarching goal pursued by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),…