Located in the municipality of Copiapo, in the Atacama Desert, the photovoltaic solar power plant has been developed, built and interconnected by SunEdison as part of an energy purchase agreement signed with CAP Group.
Developed to support the government’s energy policy, the project was built in six months and is interconnected to the Chilean Central Interconnected System electricity network (SIC), lowering the net cost of grid electricity.
SunEdison president and CEO Ahmad Chatila said, "This project has changed the course of renewable energy development not only in Chile and Latin America, but throughout the world."
Critical for the future development of renewable energy in Chile and Latin America, the $250m worth Amanecer Solar CAP plant comprises more than 310,000 photovoltaic modules spread over 250 acres.
The project is expected to inject 270 GWh of clean energy into the system during the first year of operation.
SunEdison Europe, Africa and Latin America President Jose Perez said the SunEdison is committed to the future of clean energy production and the development of the energy industry in Chile.
"This plant demonstrates that photovoltaic solar energy is an ideal way of diversifying the energy matrix in Chile, reducing costs and contributing towards meeting the demand for clean and sustainable energy," Perez added.
Image: SunEdison’s 100MW Amanecer Solar CAP power plant inaugurated. Photo: courtesy of Naypong/Freedigitalphotos.net.
