First Giant Thermosolar Plant Inaugurated in Chile, Featuring 10,600 Heliostats, Is the Largest in Latin America

Written by Valdemar Medeiros

Published on 10/06/2021 at 11:52

Updated on 10/06/2021 at 11:53

Usina foi construída em uma área de 700 hectares no deserto do Atacama, no Chile DIVULGAÇÃO VIA AFP – 8.6.2021

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With the Aim of Achieving CO2 Emission Neutrality, Chile Created the First Solar Thermal Power Plant in Latin America, Located in the Atacama Desert, One of the Richest Regions in Solar Radiation in the World.

This Tuesday (8), Chile inaugurated the first solar thermal power plant in Latin America. The plant is known as Cerro Dominador and is located in the Atacama Desert, which is known to be the driest and has the highest solar radiation on the planet. The project aims to achieve CO2 emission neutrality by 2050.

Meet the First Solar Thermal Power Plant in Chile

YouTube video — First Solar Thermal Power Plant in Latin America | AFP

The project is in a circular area covering about 700 hectares, where approximately 10,600 heliostats have been installed surrounding a tower about 250 meters tall that reflects sunlight at the top.

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President of Chile Speaks About the Plant

According to Sebastián Piñera, President of Chile, the first solar thermal project in Latin America will save more than 600,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. This reduction is equivalent to removing about 300,000 combustion cars from the streets.

The solar thermal plant, built by the Spanish companies Acciona and Abengoa, is located in the municipality of María Elena, which is 200 kilometers east of Antofagasta on the coast of Chile. During the inauguration of the first solar thermal power plant in Latin America, Piñera stated that this is a new significant step in the country’s commitment to renew its energy matrix by 2050.

He added that to fulfill this commitment, the country promises to focus its efforts on decarbonizing its energy matrix, replacing carbon derivatives with renewable energies, electrifying public transport, protecting and expanding the country’s forested area, among other actions.

The president added that Chile was poor in polluting energies, having little oil, natural gas, coal, and others, but in terms of renewable energies, the country is extremely rich. The country has excellent radiation, winds, geothermal energy, hydropower, and more.

Chile Gains Recognition as the First to Implement a Solar Thermal Power Plant

The country has several important initiatives, including the Chilean government’s commitment to be a reference in the generation of green hydrogen, which is seen as the future of fuels.

The idea is to utilize all the energy sources in the country for hydrogen production through an electrolysis process, making it sustainable by replacing fossil fuels with clean fuels.

First Giant Thermosolar Plant Inaugurated in Chile, Featuring 10,600 Heliostats, Is the Largest in Latin America

With the Aim of Achieving CO2 Emission Neutrality, Chile Created the First Solar Thermal Power Plant in Latin America, Located in the Atacama Desert, One of the Richest Regions in Solar Radiation in the World.

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Meet the First Solar Thermal Power Plant in Chile

President of Chile Speaks About the Plant

Chile Gains Recognition as the First to Implement a Solar Thermal Power Plant

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First Giant Thermosolar Plant Inaugurated in Chile, Featuring 10,600 Heliostats, Is the Largest in Latin America

With the Aim of Achieving CO2 Emission Neutrality, Chile Created the First Solar Thermal Power Plant in Latin America, Located in the Atacama Desert, One of the Richest Regions in Solar Radiation in the World.

Read Also

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President of Chile Speaks About the Plant

Chile Gains Recognition as the First to Implement a Solar Thermal Power Plant

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