Chile 's National Energy Commission (CNE) published the preliminary terms of the 2026/01 Supply Tender, through which it plans to auction 2835 GWh/year to supply the needs of regulated customers starting in January 2029 and 2030.
The tender will be divided into two supply blocks and will again have a 15-year contract (the 2025/01 tender was for a 4-year PPA), according to the year of start of energy supply, with a greater need from the beginning of 2029.
- Block 1 - 1575 GWh/year starting in January 2029 until December 2043
- Block 2 - 1260 GWh/year starting in January 2030 until December 2044
In addition, tender 2026/01 again included the segmentation of three time blocks and four regional zones, which in turn will be divided into hundreds of sub-blocks.
Zone 1 covers the north of the country; Zone 2 covers a significant part of the central zone, including customers of Enel and Chilquinta; Zone 3 covers consumption in the south-central zone; and Zone 4 includes the southern part of the country.
In terms of volume, most of the energy tendered will be concentrated in Zone 2. 1000 GWh will be tendered for Block No. 1 in this zone, while 799 GWh will be required for Block No. 2. In contrast, Zone 1 will tender 146 GWh and 117 GWh, respectively.
Thus, the volume to be awarded is a lower figure than that foreseen in a 2024 report by the CNE itself , which stipulated that 5500 GWh/year should be auctioned in 2026; although if the supply start years that coincide are taken (2029 and 2030), this 2026/01 call will auction 535 GWh/year more than detailed at that time (1300 GWh/year from 2029 and 1000 GWh/year from 2030).
What's next on the schedule? Bidding distributors will have fifteen business days to submit their comments on the Terms and Conditions, and the official call is expected to be made on Wednesday, July 1st, with the date for submission and opening of technical and administrative bids set for Friday, December 4th of this year.
While the opening of economic bids (if there is no second stage) will take place on January 5, 2027 and the public award ceremony would be held a few days later, specifically on Wednesday, January 13.
What is the reason for the volume being tendered? And what are the requirements?
The CNE indicated that this tender aims to meet the energy demand that was left uncovered in previous calls and to ensure the supply of regulated customers in the long term.
According to the estimates included in the terms and conditions, energy requirements will grow steadily over the next few years, generating supply gaps that could exceed 26,000 GWh by 2037 if new supply contracts are not finalized.
On the other hand, the projects that are submitted and awarded must have a guaranteed supply of energy, whose primary energy and/or fuel source is
other than coal, petcoke, diesel fuel or fuel oil No. 6. And under that premise, BESS will be considered as a valid asset as backup.
Likewise, in the case of hydroelectric plants, the expected generation corresponding to a dry hydrology must be considered, considering as such the year of the hydrological statistics closest to the 90% probability of exceedance.
While renewable energy sources must consider a scenario of 90% probability of exceeding their expected energy production; meanwhile, estimates of injections from the operation of battery systems will have to consider a single daily charge and discharge cycle.