POWERCHINA’s CEME1 photovoltaic project in Chile begins commercial operations, coinciding with the UN’s World Day to Combat Desertification. Located in the Atacama Desert, it holds a capacity of 480 megawatts and is expected to generate 2,863 megawatt-hours daily. The project addresses both energy and environmental challenges, aiding Chile’s carbon neutrality goals while boosting local employment.
Power Construction Corporation of China, commonly referred to as POWERCHINA, has announced that its CEME1 photovoltaic project in Chile has officially commenced commercial operation. This milestone coincides with the United Nations’ World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, signifying how innovations in green energy can both address critical environmental issues and push carbon neutrality goals forward. The CEME1 is now recognized as the largest single-entity solar power facility in the country.
This impressive installation is located in the Atacama Desert, often dubbed the driest nonpolar desert globally, and is around 1,300 kilometers from Santiago, Chile’s capital. With a substantial installed capacity of 480 megawatts spread over an area of about 400 hectares, the project encompasses a photovoltaic field, a 33/220 kV boosting station, and a roughly 9.2-kilometer single-loop transmission line. This infrastructure positions it not only for high electric output but also as a vital contributor to renewable energy in the region.
In addition to generating clean energy, the CEME1 project also serves a dual role in combating land degradation. As over 40% of the world’s lands face degradation and drought impacts intensify, projects like this one propose sustainable energy solutions while addressing environmental resilience. The construction faced challenges due to the harsh climate, including extreme heat and frequent sandstorms, alongside a labor shortage, but POWERCHINA’s well-organized team addressed these hurdles with precision and determination.
Now that it is operating, the CEME1 project is anticipated to produce around 2,863 megawatt-hours of electricity daily, adequately powering approximately 400,000 homes. The project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an impressive figure of about 280,000 tons annually, directly supporting Chile’s ambitious carbon neutrality goals set for 2050, alongside regional strategies for sustainable land use and drought adaptation.
POWERCHINA’s execution of the CEME1 project emphasizes the company’s dedication to advancing renewable energy on a global scale, even in less than favorable conditions. This project marks a significant enhancement in POWERCHINA’s international reputation and is emblematic of a larger trend toward sustainable development within Chile’s energy landscape.
Notably, the project exemplifies POWERCHINA’s ability to implement advanced technologies like wind-resistant and seismic-proof support structures. It adeptly overcomes the Atacama Desert’s extreme conditions, ensuring stable operations in an area known for seismic activity. Moreover, the dome-type fixed structures used in the project maximize land utilization while optimizing power generation capacity by minimizing maintenance roads.
The successful execution of the CEME1 project has generated strong confidence among project stakeholders in POWERCHINA’s capabilities. Additionally, it has significantly boosted local employment opportunities, creating nearly one thousand direct jobs during peak construction phases. The corporation has actively partnered with local communities, launching various educational initiatives and training programs, which are designed to cultivate skilled professionals for the renewable energy sector in Chile.
The significant achievements of the CEME1 project underscore not just its operational success but also its potential as a benchmark for future renewable projects, reinforcing the ties between sustainable energy and ecological resilience.
In summary, POWERCHINA’s CEME1 photovoltaic project not only marks a significant step for renewable energy in Chile but also highlights the importance of such initiatives in combating land degradation. With a strong emphasis on tackling climate challenges and providing local job opportunities, this project stands as a model for future endeavors in sustainable energy development.
Original Source: www.wvnews.com
