Chile is a strategic country for Qualitas Energy due to its favorable and stable regulatory environment, strong renewable development, and ambitious decarbonization goals that position it as one of the fastest-growing clean energy markets worldwide in the next decade. With the consolidation of its local presence, the company is poised to support this new era of the Chilean energy system, as well as the Latin American energy landscape as a whole.
In Chile, Qualitas Energy will focus its investments and expertise on consolidating renewable energy assets and transitioning energy infrastructure. The focus will be on solar photovoltaic, wind, run-of-the-river hydroelectric power (RoR), and storage technologies, thus contributing to the energy transition that Chile has been implementing in recent years.
Based in Santiago, Alfonso Ardizzoni will lead the operations, bringing over 20 years of experience in the Chilean electricity sector. Throughout his extensive professional career, he has been dedicated to the search, development, and consolidation of new businesses in companies such as Generadora Metropolitana.
Alfonso will work alongside Oscar Pérez, Partner and Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO), and Cristóbal Santa Cruz, Principal of Investment, both responsible for new investments in the region.
Additionally, the Chilean strategy takes shape with the acquisition and inclusion of a new technology, run-of-the-river hydroelectric power (RoR). The purchase of this first asset is a strategic decision due to its size, location, and generation profile. Moreover, it has been carried out in collaboration with top-level local partners.
The opening of this new office marks the internationalization of the group’s activities beyond Europe, where it already has eight other offices. It also represents Qualitas Energy’s first entry into the Latin American market, a milestone that is part of the company’s strategy to identify opportunities through its fifth fund, Q-Energy V. The first closing of this vehicle reached over 1.1 billion euros, and its size is expected to exceed 1.6 billion euros, making it one of Europe’s largest renewable energy funds.
Iñigo Olaguíbel, Founding Partner and CEO of Qualitas Energy, and Oscar Pérez, Partner and CBDO of Qualitas Energy, stated:
“We are pleased to announce the opening of our office in Chile, which represents a significant step in our growth plan and our ambition to accelerate the global energy transition. Alfonso’s extensive experience as the CEO of one of the major power companies in the country for over ten years has demonstrated his ability in project financing, participation in distributor bids, and leadership of operations and teams. Additionally, he has successfully established valuable and close relationships with various local stakeholders. These assets are undoubtedly key elements that will strengthen our position in the market.”
Cristóbal Santa Cruz, Principal of Investment, added:
“Chile has consistently made progress in its energy transition. The penetration of renewables is not without challenges, as we can see in the sector today, but we are confident that Qualitas Energy will significantly contribute to this orderly transition. We believe that Chile, with its lessons learned, will serve as an example for many countries that are following this path towards decarbonization. Being present in a market like this holds great value for us.”