Acciona to install 247-MW solar plant in Chile

The energy unit of Spanish group Acciona SA (BME:ANA) said on Thursday it plans to build a 246.6-MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Chile that would be Latin America’s largest.

Acciona Energia estimates it will need to invest some USD 343 million (EUR 306.5m) in the El Romero Solar project, to be implemented in the Atacama desert. Not only will this development be the biggest one in Latin America, it will also be among the ten largest PV complexes worldwide, the company noted.

El Romero Solar, which will use 777,360 polycrystalline silicon PV modules, is seen to enter its construction phase soon and to be finalised in mid-2017.

Once completed, the solar plant will be able to generate some 505 GWh of electricity per year, thereby helping Acciona Energia cover a large part of its commitment to supply 600 GWh to distribution concession holders in the Central Interconnected System (SIC) from 2018 onward. Overall, the company anticipates to invest about EUR 448 million to complete its commitment.

The solar plant will be the second facility owned by Acciona Energia in Chile following the 45-MW Punta Palmeras wind farm.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.894)

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