Enel Launches Solar Plant in Atacama Desert, to Reduce Carbon Emissions

• Enel Chile has announced the launch of the 204MW Domeyko photovoltaic plant in the Atacama Desert, which will inject 590GWh of renewable energy into the National Electric System, avoiding 465 thousand tonnes of CO2 emissions.

What happened?

Enel Chile has announced the launch of the 204MW Domeyko photovoltaic plant in the Atacama Desert in the Antofagasta Region, Chile. The National Electricity Coordinator has given the green light to the solar park, which will inject 590GWh of renewable energy into the National Electric System, avoiding 465 thousand tonnes of CO2 emissions. The solar park covers an area of approximately 606 hectares and includes the implementation of 472,590 bifacial polycrystalline photovoltaic modules. 

Why does it matter?

The launch of the Domeyko solar plant is a major milestone for Enel Chile, as it continues to incorporate more renewable capacity to its generation matrix. The operation of the solar farm will provide energy to around 251 thousand Chilean homes, and is part of the company's plan to add 1.9GW of new capacity by 2025. The use of state-of-the-art technology in developing the plant allows for greater efficiency in capturing solar radiation, resulting in a higher production profile. 

What's next?

Enel Chile is committed to the development of renewable energy sources, and has a number of other solar projects in the pipeline. These include the 90MW photovoltaic plant in the Atacama Desert, and the 60MW solar farm in the municipality of Maria Elena. The company is also investing in wind farms, with the aim of increasing the proportion of renewable energy in its generation matrix.