Plans submitted for 205 MW Chilean solar power plant

• 9 years ago (2015-01-23)
• Junior Isles

North America 1004 Renewables 757

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Chilean developer Eco Santiago is planning to construct a 205 MW capacity PV plant in a mountainous area near the capital of Santiago.

Eco Santiago submitted documents to the country's environmental assessment service (Servicio de Evaluacion Ambiental, SEIA), which stated the developer's desire to build the vast El Parque Solar Cordillera plant over three years, at a rate of 70 MW per year, and at a total cost of US $410 million.

The plant will use 661 290 solar panels, across a 614 hectare site, and will see the electricity transmitted to the national grid network, the Sistema Interconectado Central. Some infrastructure work will be required, although most of the project's power will be sent through an existing 220 kV line.

Although subject to regulatory approval, construction should begin in September.

The developer projects that El Parque Solar Cordillera should last around 25 years, as this is the lifespan of the PV panels, although there is scope for extension at that point if the right technology has been developed.

Chile has long been one of the potential emerging markets for solar energy, which seems to be finally getting under way thanks to governmental targets of 45 per cent renewable power production by 2025.