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The construction of a mega electricity project in Chile threatens to erase the world's darkest sky and jeopardize decades of advances in astronomy

Written by Carla Teles de Lima
Published 13/01/2025 às 20:34
The construction of a mega electricity project in Chile threatens to erase the world's darkest sky and jeopardize decades of advances in astronomy
Construction of the megaproject is filling the sky with light and dust. What was once a clear sky full of stars is now being taken over by the glow of machines.

The construction of the INNA megaproject, covering more than 3.000 hectares and planned to include wind and solar farms and the production of green hydrogen, threatens to compromise scientific observations by the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTAO) telescopes in the Atacama Desert, putting historic astronomical discoveries and billions in global investment at risk.

Looking up at the darkest sky in the world and suddenly seeing it obscured by artificial lights. In the Atacama Desert, the scene of some of astronomy’s most fascinating discoveries, this threat has become a reality. The construction of a mega-electric project called INNA has put at risk not only state-of-the-art telescopes, but also decades of scientific research. Can industrial progress and scientific preservation coexist?

The impact of construction in the heart of the Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest place in the world, with incredible landscapes of mountains, salt flats and dunes. At night, its clear, starry skies are perfect for stargazing and astronomical discoveries.
The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest place in the world, with incredible landscapes of mountains, salt flats and dunes. At night, its clear, starry skies are perfect for stargazing and astronomical discoveries.

In the Atacama, where the sky looks like an endless blanket of stars, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) made history. It was there that astronomers discovered the black hole at the center of the Milky Way and captured the first image of an exoplanet. All this thanks to instruments such as the Very Large Telescope (VLT), a complex that depends on the absence of artificial light to function. But what if the perfect sky disappears?

Two revolutionary projects, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTAO), are also in the running. The ELT promises to be the world’s largest optical telescope, while the CTA is focused on observing gamma rays. Both depend on the dark, clear skies of the Atacama, but the construction of the electrical megaproject could turn those ambitions into dashed dreams.

INNA megaproject: promises and controversies

AES Andes, a subsidiary of the American AES Corporation, proposed the INNA, a gigantic complex 3.000-hectare industrial park. The project includes wind and solar farms, green hydrogen production and even a port. Located near the Paranal telescopes, it promises advances in the sustainable energy sector, but at what cost?

According to ESO, astronomers’ greatest enemy is not just light, but also dust and turbulence generated by construction. The Atacama’s once pristine skies are in danger of losing their status as a perfect haven for observations. It’s like trying to hear a symphony in the middle of a noisy construction site.

The battle of astronomers against AES Andes

Since 2020, scientists have been trying to negotiate with AES Andes, proposing to relocate the project. Despite promises to mitigate impacts, the proximity of INNA remains a problem. ESO insists that changing the location would be the most sensible solution to preserve the Atacama sky.

Chile has implemented a regulation to reduce light pollution near observatories by 2024. The law offers hope, but will it be enough? The fight for dark skies is a race against time as construction progresses.

The importance of balance between science and development

The Atacama is not just Chilean; it is a treasure for humanity. The astronomical advances made there have a global impact. Is it worth compromising this legacy for an industrial project?

The dilemma is clear: how to balance economic progress with scientific preservation? INNA can be one step ahead in sustainable energy, but if poorly planned, it will be a setback for astronomy. The solution lies in finding harmony, where heaven and earth can shine together.

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Roger
Roger
17/01/2025 07:37

So much space to build and they were right next to the telescopes, they are doing this on purpose

Carla Teles de Lima

I talk about technology, innovation and the oil and gas sector, bringing up-to-date and relevant content about the Brazilian market. Every day, I share information about job opportunities and the main news in the sector. Do you have a suggestion for a topic? Just send it to my email: carlatdl016@gmail.com.

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