Colbun completes solar panel installation for 9-MW plant in Chile

Chilean power utility Colbun SA said on Monday it has completed the photovoltaic (PV) panel installation for its 9-MW Machicura solar plant.

Located in the commune of Colbun where the company started its operation 35 years ago, the solar farm consists of 21,924 PV panels, enough to generate 21 GWh of clean electricity per year or meet the annual demand of approximately 5,000 people.

With the last equipment in place, Machicura enters its final development phase and is now preparing to inject energy into the national electricity system. Commissioning is expected to occur in July.

In addition to being the first solar generation plant of Colbun in the Maule region, the PV facility was also headed by a team made up mostly of women, the company pointed out in the press release.

At present, Colbun has a wind and solar portfolio totalling 1,800 MW across five assets in an advanced stage of development, including Machicura and the 230-MW Diego de Almagro Sur PV plant. The firm also aims to add 4,000 MW by 2030.

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