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24.03.2021

Energy Digitalization in Chile

Study "Prospection in Energy Digitalization" launched in March 2021

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The digital revolution is happening in all sectors. Although some applications of digital technologies are more evident to users than others (i.e., smart phone apps), energy is one of the areas that haves benefitted the most by this revolution. The energy sector has seen an expansion in possibilities, transitioning from an industry of traditional services to a highly complex multi-actor system. Today, we hear about renewable energies, smart grids, prosumers, smart cities, and many other terms that could not have been imagined without those technological advancements. Moreover, the energy sector faces the big challenge of moving towards a consumer-centric (or end-user-centric), paradigm.

​The energy sector presents an interesting opportunity to create value by combining digital technology, people, and business strategy, as well as reducing carbon emissions through the way we produce and consume electricity, safeguarding the planet for future generations. We hope that digitalization will become a fundamental factor for the energy transition and an enabler of industrial trends related to decarbonization and decentralization. 

This study was carried out by the Energy Centre of the University of Chile on behalf of the Ministry of Energy and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in the framework of the Energy Partnership Chile-Alemania, which is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Review our International Webinar, which took place on March 24, 2021.

Key Questions

  • What problems can a digitalized energy sector solve? 
  • How can digitalization play a role in a sustainable energy transition?  
  • What are the main challenges the digitalization process faces in Chile? 
  • What are the experiences around the world in this matter? 
  • Where are we on our way to accomplish the desired level of digitalization?
The event started with a welcome by Francisco Javier López Díaz, State Secretary of the Chilean Energy Ministry
Gabriel Prudencio Flaño, Head of the Sustainable Energy Division of the Ministry of Energy, presented the study to the audience.
Edith Bayer, Analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA), took a step back and gave the audience a broader perspective.
The webinar was moderated by Patricio Andrés Mendoza Araya, PhD in Electrical Engineering at the Center of Energy of the Universidad de Chile, who also oversaw the elaboration of the study.
Francisco Javier López Díaz, State Secretary of the Chilean Energy Ministry, highlighted the importance of a Digitalization Strategy for Chile
David Lerch from the BMWi explained the principles of the German Digitalization Strategy; and also shared learned lessons from the German experience.
Marco Hüls, Coordinator of the German-Mexican Energy Partnership; Aniela Marval Director of Strategy Siemens Energy Mexico, Central America and Caribbean and Eduardo Soto Sepúlveda, CEO Phineal, spoke about the Mexican "Blockchain Challenge" and how blockchain is already used succesfully in the energy sector.
Closing remarks by our Programme Director Rainer Schröer.
Ursula Borak, Deputy General Director at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), also welcomed the several hundred live participants and outlined how the ministry contributes to the German Digitalization Strategy with around 20 individual programmes.
Edith Bayer, Analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA), took a step back and gave the audience a broader perspective.
The panel answered the questions most voted by the audience. In the picture right left: Junxia Su, Political Scientist and Economist at the German Energy Agency (dena) and expert on Demand Side Mangement and energy efficiency related policies and implementation.