Ventus Solaris has submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a 110MW PV project near Quillagua in northern Chile. If approved, installation will begin in April 2012, with initial grid connection expected before the year’s end.
The US$296 million project, christened Central Sol del Loa, will be the first commercial solar development in Chile and is being built in three stages, adding 20MW, 40MW and 50MW respectively to the total capacity.
Ventus Solaris is a joint venture formed by Chilean companies Andes Mining & Energy and KAS Ingeniería with the aim of developing projects and promoting PV in the II Antofagasta Region.
Latin America is being targeted by many solar firms as a potential growth region and Chile’s northern provinces are of particular interest due to their high irradiance levels.