Greentech Lead America: Global wind and solar developer Mainstream Renewable Power has formed partnership with global pan-emerging market investor Actis to deliver 600 megawatts of wind and solar projects into construction and operation in Chile by early 2016.
The joint venture company which is 40 percent owned by Mainstream and 60 percent by Actis will purchase the projects, which have been fully developed by Mainstream, at Financial Close. Mainstream will continue to manage the construction and support the operation of the projects on behalf of the joint venture.
Mainstream has been focusing on Chilean renewable energy market since 2008 where its local team has been developing an advanced portfolio of more than 3,500 megawatts of wind and solar projects. Globally, Mainstream has a development pipeline of over 17,000 megawatts across four continents and is currently constructing wind and solar projects in Ireland, South Africa, Chile and Canada.
This is Mainstream’s second collaboration with Actis. In 2012 Mainstream successfully bid and won three government tenders inSouth Africa for 238MW of wind and solar projects which are currently in construction. Actis invested $100 million in the projects which are due to be operational in early 2014.
Mainstream has a global pipeline of over 17,000 megawatts of wind and solar projects across four continents and this is something we may look to replicate across our other markets.
According to Mainstream, this partnership is about meeting the needs of offtakers, particularly large-scale industrial consumers in Chile who need top quality projects and competitive electricity prices.  The market is looking for independent power producers with strong financial backing, expert local knowledge and experience in delivering operational assets.