Chiles Energy Minister Máximo Pacheco was one of the participants in the inauguration ceremony at the Taltal wind farm
Taltal, Rome, October 24th, 2015 The Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the Chilean Minister of Energy Máximo Pacheco, the CEO of the Enel Group Francesco Starace and Enel Green Powers Country Manager for Chile Salvatore Bernabei, today inaugurated a set of renewable energy plants built in Chile by the Groups green energy specialist Enel Green Power (EGP). These plants are located in the region of Antofagasta and include the Taltal wind farm, the Lalackama I and II photovoltaic plants, the Ollagüe hybrid plant and the Cerro Pabellón geothermal project, whose drilling works were began by EGP during the inauguration.
The combination of these facilities reflects the enormous wealth of natural resources available to Chile said CEO Starace. This wealth, together with the countrys institutional and regulatory stability, fits perfectly with Enel Green Powers cross-technology profile. Through our investments, we intend to make a contribution to the diversification of Chiles energy mix, in line with the governments objectives.
Taltal, which takes its name from the district where it is located, is the largest wind farm currently operated by EGP in Chile. The wind farm is composed of 33 3 MW wind turbines, which have a total installed capacity of 99 MW. Taltal is capable of generating up to around 300 GWh per year equal to the energy needs of 170,000 Chilean households while avoiding the annual emission of over 200,000 tonnes of CO2. EGP invested around 190 million US dollars in the construction of the facility.
The Lalackama I and II PV solar plants, both also located in Taltal, currently make up EGPs largest solar complex in Chile, with a combined installed capacity exceeding 78 MW. The complex is able to produce approximately 210 GWh each year, equal to the annual consumption needs of over 101,000 Chilean households, while avoiding the emission of over 101,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. EGP invested around 110 million US dollars in the construction of Lalackama I and around 32 million in the construction of Lalackama II.
The Cerro Pabellón geothermal project is located 4,500 metres above sea level in the Andean Plateau close to the border with Bolivia, it will be South Americas first geothermal plant and the first of its kind to be built at such a high altitude. The facility will consist of two 24 MW units that together have a gross installed capacity of 48 MW. Once fully operational the plant will be able to generate nearly 340 GWh per year equivalent to the annual electricity consumption needs of around 165,000 Chilean households while avoiding the annual emission of over 166,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. Cerro Pabellón is owned by Geotermica del Norte (GDN), a company 51% owned by EGP and 49% owned by ENAP. Construction of Cerro Pabellón will require an investment of around 320 million US dollars.
The Ollagüe hybrid plant is located in the Atacama desert and is the largest ever built for community use in Chile. The plant is the worlds first of its type to be installed at such a high altitude (around 3,700 metres above sea level) and is subject to particularly hostile climate conditions. The project is the result of a strategic partnership between EGP and Minera El Abra, a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan. It is a stand-alone system not connected to the national electricity grid, and comprises a 200 kW PV solar plant, a mini-wind turbine generator with a nominal capacity of 30 kW and a combined heat and power system based on Trinum technology for producing both electricity and hot water for the village school. The plant has an annual generation potential of approximately 460 MWh, and also includes a 752 kWh electro-chemical energy storage system. Thanks to this innovative power plant, the around 300 inhabitants of Ollagüe enjoy 24-hour a day electricity supply. EGP invested approximately 3 million US dollars in the project.
In Chile, EGP also operates the 61 MW Talinay Poniente as well as the Talinay Oriente and Valle del los Vientos wind farms, which have a capacity of 90 MW each. The company also runs the Pilmaiquen and Puillinque hydro plants, which have a total capacity of 92 MW, as well as the Diego de Almagro (36 MW) and Chañares (40 MW) solar facilities. In Chile, the Enel Group also operates in the generation, distribution and transmission of electricity, as well as in the gas sector, through Enersis and its subsidiaries. These companies boast around 6,300 MW of installed capacity, mainly from thermal and hydropower sources, as well as some 1.7 million customers.
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