The Bolivian city of Oruro has become home to a 100 MW solar power plant that's set to provide for 100% of its electricity demand, according to the country's Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy. Phase II of the project with 50 MW capacity was inaugurated by the country's President Luis Arce Caracora on February 10, 2021.
The project is located in the Ancotanga community of Caracollo municipality and is ready to start commercial operations with grid connection to the national grid.
Built with $54.7 million investment for 2x50MW capacity each, the Oruro PV facility uses 300,000 solar panels deployed across 208 hectares of land. It was built in 2 phases, according to the ministry. It expands the country's existing solar power capacity that includes several other PV projects in Pando, Tarija and Beni regions, along with a 60 MW project in Uyuni, Potosi.
Both the phases were built by Spanish company TSK using polycrystalline silicon solar panels for Ende Corporacion, the Bolivian electricity provider.
This happens to be the maiden project funded by the French government agency AFD in Bolivia that called it one of the world's highest solar power plants built at an altitude of 3,730 meters. The country aims to move away from diesel and gas produced thermal power generation to a low carbon mix in its energy production. According to the Latin America Investment Facility funded by the European Union (EU), Bolivia aims to reach 70% of installed capacity of renewable energies, mainly wind and solar, by 2025.
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