ACCIONA Energyopens in a new tab has donated 50 solar photovoltaic modules to the Atacama Region. This was made yesterday at a ceremony in which the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, and the Governor of the Region, Miguel Vargas Correa, were present. The company’s country general manager, José Ignacio Escobar, delivered a statement of the donation, which will contribute to the development of Atacama and help promote non-conventional renewable energies.

ACCIONA Energy is building a photovoltaic plant in the region —El Romero Solar. With 247 MWp maximum power, it will be the largest in Latin America, and one of the ten largest installed so far in the world. The plant is to produce around 500 GWh of clean energy a year, equivalent to the electricity demand of 240,000 Chilean homes and avoiding the emission of approximately 473,000 metric tons of CO₂ to the atmosphere every year from coal-fired power stations.

The construction of the plant started in October this year and commissioning is expected for mid-2017. During this period, up to 475 people will be working in the plant, as described in the documents delivered to the President after the function held in Copiapó, capital of Atacama.

At the event, the Photovoltaic Installer Training Course —organized by Corfo and in which ACCIONA also participates— was inaugurated. A number of course attendees is to be employed by the company in the construction of El Romero Solar photovoltaic plant.