Chile has cleared the way for a 925 MW mega solar power project to come up in Antofagasta region, at least partly after the Environmental Assessment Commission of Antofagasta cleared the environmental impact statement of the project proposed by electricity company Colbun SA.
The Inti Pacha Solar PV Project proposed to have up to 925 MW capacity will come up 75 kilometers from Tocopilla in Maria Elena municipality on 1,297 hectares of land.
Local media portal Electricidad La revista energetica de Chile quoted Colbun's General Manager Thomas Keller as saying that the clearance will allow it to move a step closer to realizing the project and advance its solar and wind energy projects. An investment decision on the project will be made basis market requirements and its customers.
The company claims to have a portfolio of 5 renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of around 1.8 GW at an advanced stage of development, including Inti Pacha. The other projects are Diego de Almagro Sur project that's currently under construction and Machicura PV plant on which it will begin construction soon. Jardin Solar PV Plant and Horizonte Wind Project are both under process of environmental evaluation, as per the report.
In August 2020, Chilean electricity supplier AES Gener submitted environmental impact assessment for another massive hybrid renewable energy project with 863 MW capacity including 513 MW solar, 350 MW wind and energy storage to be built with an investment of $750 million (see AES Gener Proposes 863 MW RE Hybrid Project In Chile).