Atacama Solar Farm

Atacama Solar Farm is a large-scale photovoltaic power plant located in the Atacama Desert of Chile, near the city of Calama, and is owned by TotalEnergies and Energía Andina, with TotalEnergies serving as the operator, in partnership with Société Générale and Proparco. The project was developed in collaboration with Corfo, the Chilean Economic Development Agency, and KfW, the German Development Bank, with support from International Finance Corporation and Inter-American Development Bank. The solar farm is connected to the Chilean National Electricity Grid and supplies power to Minera Escondida, a copper mine owned by BHP, and other industrial customers, including Codelco and Collahuasi.

Overview

The Atacama Solar Farm is one of the largest solar power plants in Latin America, with an installed capacity of 160 megawatts, and is part of Chile's efforts to increase its renewable energy production, in line with the goals set by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. The project was financed by a consortium of banks, including Santander, BBVA, and Scotiabank, with support from Export Development Canada and US Export-Import Bank. The solar farm uses photovoltaic technology, with solar panels supplied by Trina Solar and JinkoSolar, and inverters provided by ABB and Siemens Gamesa. The project was constructed by Bechtel and Ferrovial, with support from SNC-Lavalin and AECOM.

Location

The Atacama Solar Farm is located in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest and sunniest places on Earth, near the city of Calama, in the Antofagasta Region of Chile. The region is known for its high solar irradiance, making it an ideal location for solar power generation, with average annual solar radiation levels comparable to those found in Death Valley and Sahara Desert. The solar farm is situated near the Chuquicamata mine, one of the largest copper mines in the world, owned by Codelco, and is connected to the Chilean National Electricity Grid through a transmission line built by TransnetBW and Red Eléctrica de España. The project is also supported by the Chilean Ministry of Energy and the National Energy Commission.

Technology

The Atacama Solar Farm uses photovoltaic technology to generate electricity from solar energy. The solar farm is equipped with over 500,000 solar panels, supplied by Trina Solar and JinkoSolar, with a total installed capacity of 160 megawatts, and is connected to the Chilean National Electricity Grid through a transmission line built by TransnetBW and Red Eléctrica de España. The solar farm also includes inverters provided by ABB and Siemens Gamesa, and a monitoring system supplied by Schneider Electric and GE Renewable Energy. The project was designed and engineered by Bechtel and Ferrovial, with support from SNC-Lavalin and AECOM, and is operated by TotalEnergies.

Environmental Impact

The Atacama Solar Farm is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 200,000 tons per year, equivalent to taking 40,000 cars off the road, and is part of Chile's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and meet its climate change commitments, in line with the goals set by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. The project was designed to minimize its environmental impact, with a focus on sustainable development and responsible mining practices, in accordance with the principles of the International Council on Mining and Metals and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. The solar farm is also expected to create jobs and stimulate local economic growth, in partnership with Chilean Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Commission.

Operations

The Atacama Solar Farm is operated by TotalEnergies, with support from Energía Andina and Minera Escondida, and is connected to the Chilean National Electricity Grid through a transmission line built by TransnetBW and Red Eléctrica de España. The solar farm supplies power to Minera Escondida, a copper mine owned by BHP, and other industrial customers, including Codelco and Collahuasi, with a focus on reliable energy supply and grid stability, in partnership with Chilean National Electricity Grid and the System Operator. The project is also supported by the Chilean Ministry of Energy and the National Energy Commission, with a focus on energy security and sustainable development, in line with the goals set by the International Energy Agency and the World Energy Council.

Category:Solar power plants in Chile