Chile to Set Up Marine Energy Center

Chilean Minister of Energy Maximo Pacheco, DCNS president Hervé Guillou, and executive vice president of Chilean governmental organization for economic growth (Corfo) Eduardo Bitran, have signed a joint declaration to set up Marine Energy Research and Innovation Center (MERIC).

The declration has been signed in the presence of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and French President Francois Hollande.

The entity will consist of the consortium made of DCNS and Enel Green Power (EGP), which can count on the cooperation and knowledge from Foundation Chile, Inria Chile, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Austral University of Chile, and Chilectra, Chilean Ministry of Energy said in a press release.

The development of the center, a unique initiative in Latin America, will cost approximately 20 million dollars, of which the Undersecretariat of Energy will provide about 58% over eight years through Corfo.

Offshore WIND Staff; Image: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Chile