Solar power in Chile
Solar power in Chile has the potential of producing all of the electricity used in Chile. Northern Chile has the highest solar incidence in the world.[1] In October 2015 Chile's Ministry of Energy announced its "Roadmap to 2050: A Sustainable and Inclusive Strategy", which plans for 19% of the country's electricity to be from solar energy, 23% wind power and 29% hydroelectric power.[2]
In June 2014, the 100-megawatt (MW) Amanecer Solar CAP, a photovoltaic power plant located near Copiapó in the Atacama Desert was inaugurated. It was developed by the company with the same name, Amanecer Solar CAP, and was the largest in Latin America at the time. It is capable of generating 270 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity per year.[3][4]
The 70 MW photovoltaic Salvador Solar Park went online in November 2014, followed by an official inauguration ceremony on January 23rd, 2015.[5] It was expected to produce 200 GWh of electricity per year. The plant is located approximately 5 kilometres south of El Salvador, in the Atacama region. It is one of the first in the world to supply competitively priced solar energy to the open market without government subsidy.[6]
The 60 MW photovoltaic Lalackama I plant went online in 2014 and is expected to produce 160 GWh of electricity per year. The 18 MW Lalackama II plant is located nearby and is capable of generating approximately 50 GWh per year.[7][8]
The 141 MW photovoltaic Luz Del Norte (Light of the North) plant, located 58 kilometres northeast of the city of Copiapó in the Atacama region, began construction in October 2014 and is scheduled for completion in December 2015.[9]
The Atacama 1 solar complex will consist of a 110 MW solar thermal electric plant (the first in Latin America) and a 100 MW photovoltaic plant. The solar thermal plant will include 17.5 hours of thermal storage. These technologies complement each other to supply clean and stable energy 24 hours a day. The complex is located in the commune of María Elena, Segunda Región. Construction of the solar thermal electric plant commenced in 2014 and the plant is scheduled to begin operating in the second quarter of 2017. Construction of the photovoltaic plant commenced in January 2015 and the plant is scheduled to begin operating by the end of 2015.[10]
Irradiance and installed capacity
|
| Chile Photovoltaics Capacity (MWp)[12] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| End of the year | Installed capacity operating | Under construction | Presented for environmental assessement |
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | <769 |
| 2012 | 2 | 2.5 | 4,109 |
| 2013 | 6.7 | 128 | 8,184 |
| 2014 | 362 | 983 | 12,559 |
| 2015 | 750 | 2380 | 15,769[13] |
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Chile sets 70 pct. non-conventional renewable energy target for 2050, Fox News Latino from EFE, September 30, 2015
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/06/09/chile-solar-power-plant-latin-america-largest-solar-power-plant/
- ↑ Etrion Announces Completion of 70 MW Solar Park in Chile, Etrion (press release), 04 November 2014
- ↑ Total and SunPower Celebrate Completion of 70-megawatt PV Salvador solar power plant in Chile, SunPower Corp., January 23, 2015
- ↑ https://www.enelgreenpower.com/en-GB/events_news/news/release.aspx?iddoc=1663117
- ↑ https://www.enelgreenpower.com/en-GB/media_investor/press_releases/release.aspx?iddoc=1663736
- ↑ http://www.evwind.es/2014/10/17/first-solar-panel-for-the-141-megawatt-mwac-luz-del-norte-solar-power-plant-in-chile/48159
- ↑ http://www.abengoa.es/web/en/noticias_y_publicaciones/noticias/historico/2015/01_enero/abg_20150126.html
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
