The project is located also in the Atacama desert. The project supplies the National Mining Company (ENAMI) through a long-term power purchase agreement.
Located in the municipalities of Chañaral and Diego de Almagro, 17 kilometers from the latter, the Almeyda solar plant has a peak capacity of 62 MWp (54.2 MW rated) and an emission-free annual electricity generation capacity estimated at 167.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh), equivalent to the electricity demand of around 80,000 Chilean households.
The photovoltaic plant is equipped with 187,620 modules (panels) mounted on horizontal tracking structures. It covers 150 hectares in an area with one of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, the Atacama Desert. The plant entered service by the end of 2019.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Location: Municipalities of Diego de Almagro and Chañaral, Region of Atacama (Chile).
- Peak capacity: 62MWp.
- Rated capacity: 54.2MW.
- Technology: Solar photovoltaic with horizontal solar trackers
- Start up: Late 2019.
- Owner: ACCIONA
KEY POINTS
- Second ACCIONA's photovoltaic plant in Chile
- Located in the Atacama Desert, one of the areas with the highest level of solar radiation in the world.
- Average annual generation of 167.5 GWh.
- Clean power equivalent to the consumption of 80,000 Chilean homes.
- It covers 150 hectareas of land
- 162,000 metric tonnes of CO2 avoided a year in coal-fired power stations.
- 187,620 polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules.
- The project will create up to 350 jobs during the construction phase.
- It will support the electricity supply contract signed with the National Mining Company (ENAMI).