2026-09-01 · Jhonatan Matias
Solar panels for businesses in Magallanes: real data from 2026
Installation costs, estimated return, and information on who benefits from commercial solar energy in the Magallanes region, with net figures for 2026.
Published on September 1, 2026. The figures and references pertain to that edition; the current scope is defined in the proposal.
Solar energy in Patagonia seems contradictory: there are fewer hours of sunlight compared to northern Chile, and winter significantly reduces energy generation for several months of the year. However, for a business with high daytime energy consumption, the final cost can be similar, and in 2026, there are concrete market prices available for evaluation, not just promises.
How much does it cost to install a commercial solar system?
These are net prices, excluding VAT, for a complete installation including panels, inverter, structure, and certified labor.
| System size | Installed cost | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 10 kilowatt peak | $7.000.000 a $9.000.000 | Small business or office |
| 30 kilowatt peak | $21.000.000 a $27.000.000 | Plant or building with high consumption. |
The typical return on investment for these projects is between 3 and 6 years, depending on how much of the daily consumption aligns with sunlight hours and how much can be sold through net billing. The initial assessment (which costs $250,000 and is deducted from the project) measures actual consumption, roof or land orientation, and the amount of sunlight available at the specific location, before determining a return figure.
Who is closing the account?
Solar energy performs best when the business’s consumption patterns closely match the system’s generation curve – high during the day, low at night. Therefore, it’s particularly beneficial to:
- Shops and offices They operate during daytime hours, utilizing equipment, lighting, and climate control systems while the system is generating the most power.
- Plants and workshops With shifts throughout the day, where production aligns with daylight hours.
- Businesses with consistently high and stable electricity bills.Where reducing consumption purchased from the grid has a measurable monthly impact.
For a business that primarily operates at night (for example, a place with a predominantly night shift), the return on investment is slower, because a large portion of daytime customers are sold as surplus rather than consumed internally.
Netbilling: selling what you don’t use.
Law 21.118 allows businesses to inject excess solar energy produced into the grid that they don't consume at that moment, and to deduct it from their electricity bill. This applies to systems up to 300 kW in size. This means that on days with low activity, when the system generates more energy than the business uses, that surplus isn't wasted; instead, it’s applied as a credit on the following billing period, according to the current compensation mechanism with the distribution company.
The netbilling process is part of the project, not something the client has to handle separately with the distributor.
Who installs, and who certifies?
Ditap Energía manages the entire project, but the installation is carried out by a certified installer approved by the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC): Vicente López in Chile and Marcelo Arriada in Argentina, depending on the project location. This SEC certification is not simply a formality; it is what allows the system to be legally connected to the grid and to access netbilling.
How is a real project evaluated?
- Measurement of consumption. We reviewed receipts from the last 12 months to determine the actual consumption pattern, not a generic average.
- Website evaluation. Orientation, shadows, condition of the structure regarding where the panels (roof or floor) will be placed, and the specific sunlight hours for the location.
- Estimated design and return. Based on that data, the system is sized, and the expected return, in years, including installation costs, is calculated.
- Installation and netbilling. The certified and authorized installer, SEC, carries out the project and manages the connection with the distribution company.
The account before deciding.
A 10 kWp system that costs $8,000,000 generates a monthly savings of $150,000 to $200,000 on your electricity bill, plus the revenue generated through net billing. This can be paid off in a period of 3 to 6 years, depending on how much of your consumption aligns with sunlight hours. Specifically, with your consumption and your roof, this system is what delivers… solar evaluationBefore buying a single panel.