Promising Investment Opportunities Mobilize the Nascent Southern Cone Solar Market, Finds Frost & Sullivan

Promising Investment Opportunities Mobilize the Nascent Southern Cone Solar Market, Finds Frost & Sullivan PR Newswire BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 23, 2012 - Tariff changes will allow solar technologies to compete favorably with conventional power plants in terms of price per kilowatt-hour BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The budding Southern Cone solar (SCS) market is set to grow steadily over the next few years, as the installed power capacity in the region keeps growing to meet the fast- paced electricity demand. With governments looking to diversify the national generation base and ensure energy security, the solar energy market in the area is fast becoming the hub for investment and business opportunities. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.energy.frost.com), Attractiveness Analysis of the Southern Cone Solar Markets, finds that the market earned revenues of over $9.9 million in 2011 and estimates this to reach $61.8 million by 2016. The solar markets in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay subscribe to different public policies and mechanisms for market support. While Argentina favors feed-in tariffs under the Renewable Generation Program (GENREN), Chile promotes strategic partnerships between local and foreign companies, and compulsory renewable electricity shares to power utilities. Uruguay endorses fiscal benefits and net metering for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems.