Enel Green Power Chile (EGPC), subsidiary of Enel Chile, began the construction of its new Azabache photovoltaic solar park, located about 10 kilometers from the city of Calama in the Antofagasta Region. The construction of the solar park, which will have an installed capacity of 60.9 MW, will involve an investment of approximately 49 million US dollars.
Once up and running, the Azabache Park will operate together with the 90 MW Valle de los Vientos wind farm. Thanks to the combination of the two renewable power generation technologies (photovoltaic panels and wind turbines), the project will become the first hybrid industrial plant in Chile.
The PV plant, which is due to be completed in early 2021, is expected to produce approximately 184 GWh per year, therefore avoiding the annual emission of around 136,300 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
“We are continuing to develop and build renewable projects despite the current challenging situation because we remain strongly committed to our decarbonization plan for the benefit of the whole energy system,” said James Lee Stancampiano, Enel Green Power Chile’s general manager. “Toward this aim, increasingly streamlined authorization processes are important to allow other renewable projects to go ahead, further contributing to the country’s sustainable and economic growth.”
During construction, rigorous work protocols are in place to ensure the highest safety standards in light of the ongoing pandemic, with protection measures that range from the mandatory and permanent use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to social distancing, and traceability on site. All of the above is implemented in order to ensure the health and safety of EGPC employees, subcontractors’ workers and the local community.
During the peak of its construction, approximately 230 people will be working at the project. The solar park will have about 154,710 bifacial panels, which ensure higher efficiency in capturing solar radiation, with up to 20% greater capacity in electricity generation.
EGPC is a subsidiary of Enel Chile and is a leader in Chile’s renewable energy market with a diversified portfolio comprising wind (564 MW), solar (492 MW), hydro (92 MW) and geothermal (41 MW) power.