POWERCHINA’s CEME1 project, Chile’s largest solar facility, has officially started commercial operations. Situated in the harsh Atacama Desert, it boasts 480 megawatts of capacity. The project aims to reduce carbon emissions while supporting the fight against land degradation, aligning with global carbon neutrality goals. Additionally, it has created thousands of local jobs and enhanced community skills through training initiatives.
In a significant advancement for clean energy, the Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) has launched its CEME1 photovoltaic project in Chile. Officially coming online just in time for the United Nations World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, this facility stands as the largest solar power site in the nation and demonstrates how renewable energy can protect delicate ecosystems while supporting carbon-neutrality ambitions. The timing could not be more poignant as efforts to battle desertification and climate change continue to be urgent worldwide.
Located around 1,300 kilometers from Santiago in Chile’s Atacama Desert—famed for being the driest nonpolar desert on the planet—the CEME1 project has an impressive installed capacity of 480 megawatts. Covering about 400 hectares, the project includes essential infrastructure, such as a 33/220 kV boost station and a 9.2-kilometer single-loop transmission line, enabling it to function effectively under harsh local conditions.
The CEME1 project is more than just an energy provider; it seeks to play an active role in global initiatives aimed at combating land degradation. With a staggering 40% of the world’s land facing degradation and droughts becoming more common, projects like this represent important sustainable options for both energy generation and land resilient practices.
However, building in the Atacama Desert has been no walk in the park. Extreme conditions like searing heat, dry air, and frequent sandstorms, not to mention a lack of available labor, have thrown tough challenges in the way of the construction team. Nevertheless, through strategic resource management, effective construction planning, and a determination to expedite processes, the team successfully navigated these hurdles.
Now that it’s fully operational, the CEME1 project can produce around 2,863 megawatt-hours of electricity every day, which can power approximately 400,000 homes. The project is poised to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions—around 280,000 tons each year—supporting Chile’s ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, alongside broader efforts to enhance sustainable practices in land use and adapt to ongoing droughts.
Furthermore, the successful execution of the CEME1 project demonstrates POWERCHINA’s strong commitment to expanding renewable energy on a global scale, as well as its capacity for managing major energy initiatives in challenging environments. The project has notably improved the company’s standing in international markets, while also contributing to a more sustainable energy future in Chile.
As a benchmark for high-quality projects abroad, the CEME1 initiative successfully adapted to extreme weather conditions by employing innovative wind-resistant and seismic-proof technologies, ensuring a stable performance in a region often subject to earthquakes. The project makes use of a dome-type structure, maximizing the arrangement of solar modules and reducing the land space needed for maintenance, thereby optimizing energy generation capacity.
The successful delivery of CEME1 has instilled high levels of confidence in POWERCHINA’s project management abilities from the project owner. Additionally, it has created a ripple effect for local employment, providing around a thousand jobs at the peak of its construction. POWERCHINA is also working with local communities on educational and training programs, helping to carve out a skilled workforce in Chile’s burgeoning renewable energy sector.
POWERCHINA’s CEME1 photovoltaic project in Chile marks a significant step towards advancing clean energy and fostering land resilience. Officially operational, the facility not only provides substantial amounts of electricity but also aims to mitigate climate change through reduced emissions. The project’s smart technological implementations have broken new ground in challenging environments while boosting local employment and providing training opportunities, reinforcing its role as a standard for renewable energy development.
Original Source: www.prnewswire.com
