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Región de Atacama, Chile See on Google Maps
Operational since late 2016, the photovoltaic plant El Romero Solar represents a major logistical and technological challenge for ACCIONA succesfully completed: to install a facility in the Atacama Desert able to supply clean energy equivalent to the electric demand of 240,000 homes.
Between October 2015 and November 2016, ACCIONA built its biggest photovoltaic plant to date in the Atacama desert; it also had the highest capacity of such a plant in Latin America when it was completed.

With 246 MWp peak capacity, El Romero Solar produces energy equivalent to the consumption of around 240.000 Chilean homes. Eighty megawatt are used to power 100% the Google's data center in Chile.

 

Located in the municipality of Vallenar, in the Atacama Region, 645 km north of the capital Santiago, the new facility is able to generate 493 GWh of clean energy a year on average, avoiding the emission of around 474,000 metric tons to the atmosphere in coal-fired power stations.

The El Romero Solar plant covers 280 hectares in one of the driest places on the planet. It has a high level of solar radiation and very clean air, which facilitates the capture of the sun’s energy. These factors have been crucial in the installation of astronomical observatories in the area.

The plant is equipped with 776,000 polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, making up a solar capture surface of over 1.5 million m2 (equivalent to 211 professional soccer pitches). The panels are installed on static metal structures which, if lined up, would have a total length of over 196 kilometers.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Location: Vallenar municipality, Region of Atacama (Chile).
  • Peak capacity: 246 MWp.
  • Nominal capacity: 196 MW.
  • Technology: Solar photovoltaic on static structures.
  • Start up: November, 2016.
  • Owner: ACCIONA

KEY POINTS

  • The biggest PV solar plant in Latin America and one of the largest in the World when grid-connected.
  • The PV project with the highest capacity developed by ACCIONA Energy by then.
  • Owned by ACCIONA, with an USD 343m investment
  • 493 GWh annual average output.
  • Enough clean energy to power 240,000 Chilean homes
  • Part of its production will supply the Google's data center in Chile
  • Emission of 473,000 metric tons of CO2 a year avoided from coal-fired power stations.
  • Total area of 280 hectares, with 150 hectares of solar capture surface.
  • 776,000 polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules.
  • With more than 55 millon solar cells
  • Mounted on metal static structures covering 196 kilometers if lined-up
  • 180 converters DC/AC of 1.089 MW.
  • New substation (33/220 kV) connected with the Pan de Azucar-Maitencillo line, belonging to the SIC grid.
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