Guide
PMGD in Chile: a technical guide for investors
What a PMGD is, how it is regulated and what technical due diligence reviews before buying or financing a small solar plant in Chile.
Independent technical services
Technical due diligence for solar plants in Chile
Technical due diligence is the independent review a buyer, investor or lender commissions before acquiring or financing a solar plant. In Chile it covers permits and grid connection, build quality, the energy yield estimate, and the construction and O&M contracts, and it translates technical risks into price adjustments or closing conditions. Carlos Jofré delivers it in English or Spanish, from UF 90.
Key points
- Self-consumption plants up to 1 MW: from UF 90. PMGD up to 9 MW: from UF 240.
- 3 to 6 weeks, depending on asset size.
- Report in English on request; NDA signed before any document is shared.
- Coordinated with the client's legal and financial advisors.
Who it is for
- Funds and investors buying PMGD plants, operating or ready to build.
- Family offices entering solar energy for the first time.
- Banks and lenders providing green loans.
- Companies buying or selling portfolios of self-consumption plants.
What it includes
- Document review: registration of the installation with the SEC (Chile's electricity regulator), permits, grid connection and land or roof titles.
- Independent energy yield assessment, with P50 and P90 scenarios.
- Site inspection of build quality and equipment condition.
- Review of equipment, warranties and contracts: construction (EPC) and operation and maintenance (O&M).
- Risk matrix with red flags and recommendations for closing.
Fees
| Scope | Fee |
|---|---|
| Self-consumption plants up to 1 MW | from UF 90 |
| PMGD up to 9 MW | from UF 240 |
| Owner's engineer during construction | UF 60 per month |
Fees are indicative. UF is Chile's inflation-indexed unit of account (ISO 4217: CLF). «From» is the minimum for each scope; the final fee is set in a written proposal before work starts.
Process and timeline
- Non-disclosure agreement and access to the data room.
- Document review and first red flags within 10 business days.
- Site inspection.
- Final report and meeting with the buyer and its advisors.
The work takes 3 to 6 weeks depending on the size of the asset. It is done remotely and on site.
What makes Chile different
- PMGD. Small distributed generators of up to 9 MW have their own connection procedure and price regime. See the PMGD guide for investors.
- Curtailment. In 2025, Chile curtailed 6,084 GWh of renewable energy, mostly in the north and during daylight hours. A yield study that ignores it overstates revenue.
- Environmental review. Power plants above 3 MW must enter the environmental impact assessment system.
Independence policy
Carlos Jofré is the founder and CEO of SolarPro Chile, a solar installation and O&M company. For proposal reviews, audits, due diligence and expert reports he acts as an independent advisor: he discloses that relationship in writing, does not recommend SolarPro within the engagement and does not take engagements on projects or disputes involving SolarPro.
Track record
- PredictSun, a CORFO-funded predictive-maintenance project at the 54 MWp Los Loros PV plant (ENGIE group, Atacama).
- Industry representative on the interim board of the AtaMoS-TeC solar consortium (2018).
- More than 15 years designing, building and maintaining PV plants. See about Carlos Jofré.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with foreign investors?
Yes. The report can be delivered in English and the closing meeting can be held by video call.
Do you sign a non-disclosure agreement?
Always, before receiving any document about the asset.
Do you work alongside legal and financial advisors?
Yes. The technical due diligence is coordinated with the legal and financial reviews, so that technical findings become contract clauses and price adjustments.
How much does technical due diligence cost in Chile?
Carlos Jofré publishes his fees: from UF 90 for self-consumption plants up to 1 MW and from UF 240 for a PMGD up to 9 MW. International firms offering this service do not publish theirs.
Sources
Where the data comes from
- ACERA's 2025 power system review, as reported by Reporte Minero (January 2026, in Spanish).
- Law 19.300, Chile's environmental framework law (article 10, letter c).
- Service page in Spanish, with the price estimator.
Keep reading
Related pages
Independent technical services
PV plant performance audit
Independent audit of solar plants in Chile: performance ratio, infrared thermography, I-V curves and a loss report ranked by financial impact.
Track record
About Carlos Jofré
Carlos Jofré is a Chilean solar engineer: co-founder of Ecoenergías (2011), founder of SolarPro (2017) and the mind behind 17 CORFO-funded R&D projects.
Technical due diligence for solar plants and projects
from UF 90. The first 15-minute call is free of charge.