Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

Chile: Agreement for 100 MW plant in the Atacama desert

SunEdison and Chilean mining and steel group CAP have signed an agreement to develop a 100 MW PV power plant in the Atacama desert.

The PV plant is to be constructed with more than 300,000 Silvantis monocrystalline silicon modules as well as solar trackers designed by SunEdison.

SunEdison

MEMC Electronic Materials subsidiary SunEdison expects this project to be the largest of its kind in Latin America. The PV plant will be developed to produce as much as 15% of CAP's energy needs for its mining activities among others. CAP is the largest iron ore mining, steel producer and steel processor group in Chile.

The PV plant is to be constructed using more than 300,000 Silvantis monocrystalline silicon modules, as well as solar trackers designed by SunEdison. CAP is expected to supply the steel that will be used for development. The finished project will be managed by SunEdison Renewable Operations Center (ROC), which will ensure round the clock monitoring and management.

A spokesperson told pv magazine that it is hoped the first phase of the plant will be online by the end of the year. Initial permitting work is also said to have begun. No further details were released.

Pancho Pérez, SunEdison General Manager for EMEA, Latin America and North Asia, states that the company is pleased to add CAP group to the customer portfolio. "We have worked to deliver an innovative solution to CAP designed to reduce their energy costs while deriving up to 15 percent of their electricity supply from clean energy," Pérez added.