AES Andes gets green light for 863-MW wind, solar hybrid in Chile

• Santiago, Chile-based power business AES Andes has actually obtained environmental approval to build an 862.5-MW wind as well as solar hybrid generation plant in the Chilean region of Antofagasta complying with a nearly three-year review process.

The Parque Terra Energia Renovable project will see the firm construct a 350-MW wind farm as well as a 512.5-MW solar photovoltaic or pv farm in the commune of Taltal, northern Chile, and locate a battery energy storage system (BESS) amongst the solar arrays, according to the approval notice released on Thursday.

Investment in the project is estimated at USD 750 million (EUR 692.7 m).

AES Andes submitted the environmental impact study (EIS) for the project in August 2020 when it was known as AES Gener. While the EIS needed updates during the review process, the highlights of the project remained unchanged.

The wind farm will certainly be composed of 50 turbines of 7 MW each, while the solar plant will be furnished with roughly 1.1 million panels, as initially prepared.

The timetable of the project was customized. Construction is now expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025, while power generation is seen to begin in the initial quarter of 2027.

The end of procedures and the dismantlement of the facilities are set up for the second quarter of 2062, according to the final notice.