The $1.2bn solar complex will include a 110MW solar thermal electricity (STE) power plant, including tower technology and thermal energy storage system, as well as a 100MW photovoltaic power plant.
Before giving its approval, the Environmental Evaluation Service has considered aspects such as land and water use, emissions reduction and the management of waste from the projects.
Construction of the project, which is expected to begin in the next two months, would generate 2,000 jobs.
Abengoa said that the project design will be based on the Atacama 1 solar complex, which is under construction near Maria Elena in the Antofagasta region.
Planned to be commissioned in 2017, the Atacama 1 complex will have a solar thermal electricity power plant, with 17.5 hours of thermal storage and a 100MW PV plant.
The thermal storage system with molten salts will enable delivery of stable energy throughout the day.
The facilities will feature a management system to enable integration of the energy produced by both solar thermal electric and PV technologies.
