Land recently awarded to solar companies for large-scale plants shows the Chilean government's encouragement for PV and commitment to meeting its national targets.

It was recently announced that seventeen solar projects have recently received approval for land plots from the Chilean government. The total

land awarded totals 12,707 hectares of land-although this total also includes concessions for wind projects. The recipients of the land have been

given to foreign companies including Enel Green Power, Mainstream Renewable Power and SunEdison.

Working with state owned land may be a slower process than land lease from private owners, however it is a good way to avoid complications

arising from mining companies with sub-soil mining rights. Land in northern Chile could soon be at a premium due to its value for the mining

industry as well as the high irradiation levels found in the area.

The use of land in Chile is a highly political issue with local communities contesting the construction of energy and infrastructure on land

which may be sacred or have other meaning. Not having a knowledgeable legal team land negotiation can also add further delays to PV project

development timelines.

The US International Trade Administration predicts by 2015 Chile will produce 264MW of solar energy. These predictions are more realistic than

other high projections however still show the speed of growth which needs to occur for this to be achieved. That the concessions have all been

awarded to foreign companies reveals the nature of the market currently under development ie that the majority of developers with larger plants

are international and thus the importance for local companies of developing regional partnerships.

At PV Insider LATAM (10-11 September, Santiago) leading land transaction experts Hatch Engineering and Ignacio Arteaga, a partner at leading

Chilean law firm Arteaga y Gorziglia, will explain the multiple different land transaction formats as well as how to avoid some of the common

pitfalls and how to navigate sub-surface mining rights.

Leading developers such as Enel Green Power and SunEdison will both be at PV Insider LATAM to give your business the inside knowledge and tips it

needs to claim a stake in the PV market.

For more information, visit: www.pv-insider.com/chile2013

Contact:

Letty Thomas
PV Insider
lthomas@pv-insider.com