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🇨🇱 Solar Calculator Chile

Enter your electricity bill and city — get solar system size, panels, cost in CLP, Ley 21.118 net billing savings, and payback. The Atacama Desert has the highest solar irradiance on Earth at 7.0 PSH.

Your electricity usage
$CLP
kWp
Chile solar estimate 🇨🇱
5 kWp system — 13 × 400W panels
Monthly usage (est.)400 kWh/mo
Annual solar production7.008 kWh/yr
System cost range$3M – $4,5M
Monthly savings$82K/mo
Annual savings$978K/yr
Payback period3.8 years
25-year savings$38M
Ley 21.118 net billing: Chile's law allows systems up to 300 kW to export excess solar. Export is credited at the node price (~78% of retail). Maximize self-consumption by shifting loads (dishwasher, EV charging) to daytime hours.
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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your bill and city

Enter your average monthly electricity bill in Chilean Pesos (CLP). Select your city — the Atacama Desert (Copiapó area, 7.0 PSH) has the highest solar irradiance on Earth, followed by Antofagasta (6.5 PSH) and La Serena (5.5 PSH). Santiago and Valparaíso are good solar locations (4.6–4.8 PSH). Concepción in the south sees lower production due to latitude and more cloudy days. The calculator uses a blended residential rate of ~$150 CLP/kWh.

Set your system size and net billing

Enter your system size in kWp. Most Chilean homes need 3–10 kWp. Enable net billing (Ley 21.118) to model grid-export credits. Under this law, excess electricity is credited at the "precio nudo" (node price), which is approximately 78% of the retail rate — not full retail. Maximizing self-consumption (using solar during the day) is the most cost-effective strategy.

Read the results

Results show panels, cost range in CLP (600,000–900,000 CLP/kWp), monthly and annual savings, payback period, and 25-year savings. Chile's electricity prices have escalated ~4% per year historically, making solar increasingly valuable over time.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ $150 CLP/kWh (blended rate) Annual Production = System kWp × PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency Panels = System kWp × 1,000 ÷ 400W (round up) System Cost = kWp × $600,000–$900,000 CLP Annual Savings = Self-consumed kWh × $150 + Exported kWh × $117 (node price) Payback = System Cost ÷ Annual Savings

Chile's net billing node price is set by the National Energy Commission (CNE) and averages ~78% of retail rate. The Atacama Desert at 7.0 PSH produces extraordinary amounts of electricity — more than Hawaii, Arizona, or any other commonly cited solar location. A 1 kWp system in Atacama produces ~2,044 kWh/year vs. ~1,401 kWh in Santiago and ~1,168 kWh in Concepción. The 25-year model uses 4% annual electricity escalation and 0.5%/year panel degradation.

Example

María — Santiago home, 5 kWp with net billing

María pays $60,000 CLP/month for her Santiago home. She installs a 5 kWp solar system and enrolls in net billing under Ley 21.118.

Monthly bill$60,000 CLP/mo
City / PSHSantiago, 4.8 PSH
System size5 kWp (13 × 400W panels)
Net billingYes (Ley 21.118)

Result

Annual production~7,008 kWh/yr
System cost$3M – $4.5M CLP
Annual savings~$1,051,200 CLP/yr
Payback~3.6 years
25-year savings~$45M CLP

Santiago's combination of 4.8 PSH, competitive installation costs, and Ley 21.118 creates an excellent solar investment with payback under 5 years. The Atacama region sees even shorter payback — often under 3 years — due to extraordinary irradiance.

FAQ

Chile's Ley 21.118 (Net Billing Law, enacted 2019, updated 2022) allows residential and commercial customers with systems up to 300 kW to connect solar to the grid and export excess electricity. Export is credited at the "precio nudo" (injection node price) set by the National Energy Commission (CNE) — approximately 78% of retail rate. Credits accumulate and offset future bills. Unlike true net metering, export credits are at a lower rate than retail, so maximizing daytime self-consumption gives better returns. To enroll: contact your distributor (Enel, CGE, Chilquinta, Frontel) and apply for a net billing contract.
The Atacama Desert in northern Chile receives 7.0+ peak sun hours per day — more than any other inhabited location on Earth, including the Sahara. Three factors combine uniquely: (1) Altitude: Much of Atacama is 2,000–4,000m elevation, with thinner atmosphere and less air mass for sunlight to penetrate. (2) Extreme aridity: The Atacama is the driest non-polar desert on Earth — virtually zero cloud cover year-round. (3) Latitude: At 23–27°S, it receives near-perpendicular solar radiation. NASA and NREL measurements confirm it as the world's highest solar resource. A 1 kWp system here generates ~2,000+ kWh/year vs. ~1,000 kWh in Germany.
A complete grid-tied rooftop solar system in Chile costs approximately $600,000–$900,000 CLP per kWp installed in 2026. A 5 kWp residential system costs roughly $3M–$4.5M CLP all-in, including panels, inverter, mounting, and installation. Prices vary by brand (imported vs. local assembly), installer quality, and region — northern regions may have higher logistics costs. Popular installers include Sunfields, Mainstream, SolarPlus, and regional companies. Always get 3 quotes and verify SUSESO registration for reputable installers.
Yes — Chile has some of the best solar economics in the world. The combination of high solar irradiance (especially in the north), Ley 21.118 net billing, rising electricity tariffs, and competitive installation costs makes solar attractive nationwide. Santiago homes typically see 3.5–5 year payback; Atacama and Antofagasta homes can achieve 2–3 year payback. Chile has no federal solar tax credit (unlike the US), but VAT on solar equipment has been reduced. The 25-year panel lifespan provides 20+ years of near-free electricity after payback.
Chile's main solar incentive is Ley 21.118 (Net Billing Law), which allows excess solar to be credited against electricity bills. There is currently no federal solar tax credit equivalent to the US ITC. However, Chile's CORFO (development agency) occasionally offers green financing programs with reduced interest rates for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Some municipalities offer permit fee reductions for solar installations. The main driver of solar economics in Chile is the combination of high irradiance and net billing, not government subsidies.

Related Calculators

☀ Solar Panel Calculator
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25-year electricity savings from rooftop solar.
⚡ Net Metering Calculator
Model net billing export credits and savings.
⏱ Solar Payback Calculator
Detailed payback with tariff escalation modeling.

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