IDB Invest has provided financing for three wind projects in Chile that will contribute to the ongoing diversification of the country’s electricity grid.
Chile has been on a fast track to renewable energy in recent years, and IDB Invest has helped fuel that trend with investments in solar, geothermal and wind energy. A loan package signed with Aela Energía in 2017 will finance three wind projects with a combined installed capacity of 332 megawatts (MW), in Chile’s Atacama, Los Lagos and Bío-Bío regions.
Chile has been incorporating more non-conventional renewables into its grid as it seeks to move away from fossil fuels—especially coal—for electricity generation.
Climatescope, which assesses investment conditions for clean energy and climate-related investments in more than 70 countries, ranks Chile as the seventh most attractive country in the world for green investment, with only Brazil and Mexico scoring higher among Latin American countries.
For the Aela Energía projects, IDB Invest put together a $410 million financing package in conjunction with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Korean Development Bank, CaixaBank and KfW. Project financing will cover about 70 percent of total financing, while the equity partners will provide the remaining 30 percent.
Aela Energía will build and operate the 170 MW Sarco Wind Farm in Atacama and the 129 MW Aurora Wind Farm in Los Lagos, and it will own and operate the existing 33 MW Cuel Wind Farm in Bío-Bío. Founded in 2013, Aela Energía is 60 percent owned by Actis, a global fund that invests in growth markets, and 40 percent by Mainstream Renewable Power, a global developer of renewable energy projects.
Basic information
Company name
AELA GENERACIÓN S.A.
Investment type
Loan
E&S category
B
Disclosed date
Projected board date
Approval date
Signed date
Team Leader
Reyes, Nicolas A.
Financial Summary
Financing amount
$ 175,000,000
Financing Currency
USD
PROJECT
SCOPE
AND
OBJECTIVE
The AELA Generation Project (the “Project”) includes the financing of two new wind farms located in Chile’s Atacama and Lakes regions, respectively; a 73 km, insulated 220 kV transmission line linking the Sarco wind farm to the existing substation at Maitencillo; and the Cuel wind power plant currently in operation.
The Sarco wind farm (“Sarco”) will be sited on a 2,680 hectare lot, will have an installed capacity of 170 MW, and will consist of 50 Senvion 3.4M114 turbines. The power to be produced will be delivered to the Maitencillo substation over a 73 km, insulated 220 kV transmission line, and construction of this line is also part of the project. The Aurora wind park (“Aurora”) will be located on a 2,500 hectare property, will have an installed capacity of 129 MW, and will consist of 43 Senvion 3.0M112 turbines. The power generated there will flow directly to the existing transmission line (220 kV) that joins the Rahue and Puerto Montt substations. The Cuel power plant (in operation) has 23 GW87 wind turbines for a total installed capacity of 33.0 MW.
The IIC’s participation in the financing will help to increase the supply of renewable energy in Chile.
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND
SOCIAL
REVIEW
SUMMARY
In accordance with the IIC Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy, the project has been classified on preliminary basis as a category “B” project. Its final classification will be confirmed following the environmental and social due diligence process.
The main negative environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of both power plants and the transmission lines are as follows: i) change in air quality due to construction activities; ii) erosive processes caused by planned soil movement (particularly at Sarco); iii) increased noise and vibration levels due to the use of heavy equipment during the construction phase and from the turbines during the operations phase; iv) loss of vegetation and possible impacts on natural fauna, flora, and habitats, when setting the foundation for the wind tower and due to release of the transmission line’s easement strip; v) potential increase in the risk of soil contamination from hazardous substances to be used during project execution; vi) interruption or diversion of traffic in populated areas (Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, etc.) due to transport of extra-wide cargo during construction of the plants; vii) increased risk to health particularly during the construction and assembly of the wind turbines and when work is done at heights during the construction of transmission structures and the stringing of conductors on the transmission line; viii) potential impacts on flying fauna (birds and bats) due to possible collisions with the wind turbine blades; and ix) permanent alteration of the landscape due to the presence of wind turbines and transmission lines, among other features.
As for social aspects, the main negative impacts are related to: i) social problems due to the imposition of the easement strip for the transmission lines; and ii) impacts on tourism (particularly in La Aurora) due to a landscape changed by the presence of the plants and the transmission line.
The environmental impact studies (“EIA”) required by Chilean legislation have been approved by the competent environmental authorities and the related environmental qualification resolutions (or “RCA,” equal to environmental licenses) have been issued for the project.
The EIAs have the following plans and programs for managing the undesired impacts: i) Plan of measures for environmental and social management of the project’s impacts; ii) Plan of measures for environmental and social management of the project’s risks; iii) Plan of general measures to address contingencies and events of low environmental significance; iv) Solid domestic waste management plan; and v) Non-hazardous industrial solid wastes management plan. In addition, there are individual monitoring plans for the project’s construction, operation, and closing phases.
The IIC will perform environmental and social due diligence (“ESDD”) in order to evaluate likely environmental risks, confirm the project classification, evaluate management plans for mitigating risks, and define an environmental and social management plan (“ESAP”) for the project. During the ESDD, the IIC will visit the project site and evaluate the environmental, social, and health and safety systems to be adopted, including related plans and procedures; will inspect the sites proposed for encampments and industrial areas; will verify the scope of the public consultation process; will analyze the basic information and social and labor issues related to the project; and will evaluate the risk that birds and bats will collide with the wind turbines’ blades.
A summary of the environmental and social review (“ESRS”) will be prepared and published on the IIC website once the ESDD process has been completed.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
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ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL REVIEW SUMMARY
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INFORMATION
For project inquiries, including environmental and social questions related to an IDB Invest transaction please contact the client (see Investment Summary tab), or IDB Invest using the email requestinformation@idbinvest.org. As a last resort, affected communities have access to the IDB Invest Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism by writing to mecanismo@iadb.org or MICI@iadb.org, or calling +1(202) 623-3952.
