Chile seeks renewable energy options to boost its burgeoning tech economy. Here, Intelligent CIO outlines two projects pitching to make a difference.
SOLEK, the company of Czech renewable energy pioneer Zdeněk Sobotka, is building its largest project to date in Chile.
The 95,2 MW Leyda photovoltaic plant covers an area of 120 hectares, equivalent to 150 football fields and it is located in San Antonio, 90 km from Santiago.
The new plant will significantly contribute to the decarbonisation goals of the country representing an advance renewable energy market.
Chile is one of the countries with a very modern, sustainable energy sector using a high level of renewable energy and the new SOLEK Leyda power plant will contribute significantly to this and help meet the country’s decarbonisation goals.
The Leyda plant is expected to generate 185 GWh of green energy annually, corresponding to the consumption of 23,000 households – saving 71,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
The electricity from Leyda will contribute to Chile’s ambitious plans to reach net zero emissions by year 2050.
SOLEK Group had an opportunity to welcome a delegation of the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, Jozef Síkela, at the site of the Leyda.
Síkela said: “With the rapid growth of renewables, the demands on the energy grid are increasing. It is one of the challenges in the process of modernisation of the energy sector. Chile is already addressing these challenges and can be an inspiration for us in this respect. It has solved many issues, which also await the Czech Republic in terms of transformation of our energy sector. I am
glad that we can share the experience with colleagues from Chile.”
SOLEK founder and CEO Zdeněk Sobotka said:
“Chile takes renewable energy seriously; it has great ambitions in this area, thanks to which we are able to build large projects there. Leyda is our biggest investment to date. I believe that we will continue to build power plants of this scale.”
“It has been ten years since SOLEK entered Chilean market. Having this experience and trust of the financial investors, we continue investing to renewable energy projects in Chile.”
The construction of the Chilean portfolio is financed in partnership with international banks BNP Paribas and Natixis. BlackRock Debt Fund also provided a mezzanine financing.
Once operational, the Leyda plant will supply the power generated through a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with ENEL Generación Chile. This is a long-term energy supply contract between green power producer and customer with predefined conditions.
The project was developed in accordance with the highest standards on the market and with environmental considerations in mind.
Four hundred direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created during construction. The plant is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The SOLEK Group is now focusing on new and promising areas such as the development of floating PV systems, agrovoltaics and battery storage.
SOLEK is among the leaders of solar power development in Latin America, operating nearly 40 photovoltaic power plants in Chile alone – with a total capacity of over 250 MW.
By the end of 2023, the entire SOLEK Group had 486 MW of solar power plants connected or under construction.
Meantime, Atlas Renewable Energy, an international leader in renewable energy, has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Codelco, Chile’s state-owned mining company and the world’s largest copper producer, for the supply of 375 GWh of energy per year.
Power will be supplied around the clock through a new renewable energy project in Chile with an integrated battery storage system.
With this PPA, Atlas will supply Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, with nearly 375 GWh/year for 15 years.
Atlas will develop, build and operate a new renewable energy project with an integrated battery storage system.
