Thermal generation made it possible to compensate for the decrease in the participation of hydroelectric technologies.
SIC marginal cost decreases due to higher LNG availability
In the latest report prepared by the consulting firm Systep, the entity highlighted that in February the operation of the SIC was characterized by an increase in LNG-based generation, from 19% to 23%, in addition to a slight growth in coal-fired generation, as a consequence of the decrease in the participation of hydroelectric technologies in electricity generation, which reached 35% during the past month.
As a result, the marginal cost in the Alto Jahuel 220 busbar averaged US$142.8/MWh, which represents a decrease of 6.3% compared to January (US$152.4/MWh) and an increase of 11.3% compared to February 2013 (US$128.3/MWh).
In the SING operation during February, the share of diesel generation decreased from 8% to 5%, being replaced by coal and LNG generation, due to the greater availability of the latter fuel by E-CL’s U-16 unit.
However, its marginal costs were marked by diesel in high demand and LNG in low demand, such that the monthly average marginal cost for February in the Crucero 220 busbar was US$96.8/MWh, which represented an increase of 4.5% over January (US$92.6/MWh), and an increase of 41% over February 2013 (US$68.8/MWh).
