Enel Green Power Chile has started construction of the almost 70MW Azabache solar farm in the Antofagasta region of the South American country.
The $49m Azabache is located about 10km from the city of Calama and will operate together with the 90MW Valle de los Vientos wind farm as Chile’s first hybrid power plant.
Azabache is due to be completed in early 2021 and is expected to produce approximately 184 gigawatt-hours of electricity a year from about 154,710 bifacial panels.
Enel Green Power said that during construction “rigorous work protocols” are in place to ensure the highest safety standards in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Protection measures range from the mandatory and permanent use of personal protective equipment, to social distancing, and traceability on site, the company said.
During peak construction approximately 230 people will be working at the project.
Enel Green Power Chile general manager James Lee Stancampiano said: “We are continuing to develop and build renewable projects despite the current challenging situation because we remain strongly committed to our decarbonisation plan for the benefit of the whole energy system.
“Toward this aim, increasingly streamlined authorisation processes are important to allow other renewable projects to go ahead, further contributing to the country’s sustainable and economic growth.”
Enel Green Power Chile has a portfolio comprising 564MW wind, 492MW solar, 92MW hydro and 41MW geothermal.