This week, ClearSky Advisors predicted that there will be 2.2GW of installed PV capacity in Chile by 2017. Whilst this is a more conservative prediction than we have seen from other analysts, it takes into account the current grid issues which may seriously hinder PV's growth potential.

London, April 16th 2013

To overcome the issues of grid penetration, congestion, connection and the financial risk that this currently causes, PV Insider LATAM (10-11 September, Santiago, Chile) has gathered together over 25+ experts speakers including national decision makers in power regulation and financing. Notably Eduardo Ricke Munoz the Chief Executive of the Central Grid, Carlos Arenas the Regional Ministerial Secretary for the North at the Ministry of Mining, and Daniel Aninat from Santander Chile have recently confirmed their participation as speakers at the event.

The motivation for bringing these key figures together is that the majority of solar plants in development are still in need of financing. Reasons for a lack of project and debt financing range from poor plant design to concerns that interconnection issues will hamper dispatchability. Experts have argued that an improved capacity to design plants specifically adapted to succeed in the Chilean desert environment is key. Claudio Ferrara, Head of Reliability and Weathering at the Fraunhofer institute, notes that the strength of UV rays in the Atacama region will greatly enhance the embrittlement of modules.

What is more, the spot market in Chile is yet to flourish due to a lack of electricity price stability. At present, financiers are concerned that electricity produced from solar without a PPA will not be profitable if sold to compete with gas. However, the market is still in its infancy and results from solar plants currently operating will further assure the credibility and profitability of the market.

At PV Insider LATAM 2013 (10-11 September, Santiago) developers and EPC groups will learn how to minimise their risk, plus how to fulfil the technical and financial specifications of investors from across the range of financial institutions including multilaterals and international banks. To achieve a high level of detail and increased learning, a financial expert will moderate a scenario activity on each table of delegates.

At PV Insider Latin America, attendees will receive exclusive insight from speakers on the following issues:

•Hear from all the developers with plants currently operating in Chile (Solarpack, Selray and Kaltemp) about their experiences and best practice strategies to improve your project development process

•Get your questions answered by Chile's leading grid decision makers including Eduardo Ricke Muñoz, Chief Executive- Central Grid, Daniel Salazar Jaque, Chief Executive- Northern Grid, and Eduardo Andrade president of CIGRE Chile to improve your plant specification to integrate with the grid more efficiently

•Make your proposal unmissable, meet and engage with Joaquin Melendez-Head of Solar at AES Gener, Carlos Arenas- Regional Ministerial Secretary of Energy for the North Zone Rodrigo Lizanas- Energy Efficiency Specialist at Collahuasi Mine to find out what your customer really wants

For more information about PV Insider LATAM (10-11 September) visit: www.pv-insider.com/latam/en-index.php