Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

Sky Solar unveils 300 MW Chilean PV plans

China-based Sky Solar has announced it will invest US$900 million in developing over 300 MW worth of photovoltaic plants in Chile.

Wen Jiabao, Chinese premier, visited Chile in June in order to set up a structure for cooperation between the two governments.

Wikipedia/Ichwan Palongengi

In a statement released, Sky Solar says it has partnered with Chile-based Sigdo Koppers to roll out the projects over a number of phases. This year, the Chinese company plans to install a two MW pilot project, which is expected to be followed by an 18 MW ground-mounted photovoltaic plant. Over the next 18 months, it says that the remaining projects are likely to be "at least" 150 MW in size.

The news comes after Chinese Premierm Wen Jiabao and his entourage, paid official visits to four South American countries in June. In the statement, it was said that Premier Wen and Chilean President Sebastián Piñera "agreed to set up a structure for cooperation between the two governments and to develop a common action plans between the two countries."

Funding for the photovoltaic projects is expected to come from the China Development Bank, the planning director of which, Guo Mingshe, also attended the official visit. The bank was said to have entered the Chilean energy market earlier this year.

Sky Solar said it considers Chile to be "one of the most attractive" photovoltaic markets globally, due to its "politically stable government and policies, strong investment environment, electricity demand and the governments increasing focus on renewable energy."

In related news, at the start of June, Element Solar Power said it intends to develop 300 MW worth of solar projects in Chile, across ten 30 MW plants. The company also unveiled plans to open an "interpretive and educational" center in the Atacama Desert.