Chile's Coquimbo to launch ninth wind farm

Chile's Atacama Desert may be the country's solar Mecca, but when it comes to wind energy, central-northern Coquimbo region (IV) is king.

Acciona has completed construction of the 45MW Punta Palmeras wind farm, which is set to reach full commercial operation in December, according to an energy ministry release.

The US$100mn project in the coastal community of Canela will supply the central SIC grid with output from 15 turbines, each boasting a capacity of 3MW. Punta Palmeras will be the ninth wind farm to come online in the region.

The addition of Punta Palmeras will bring Coquimbo's total installed wind capacity to 552MW, the statement said, or enough to power approximately 700,000 homes.

Coquimbo region boasts 80% of Chile's installed wind capacity.

Continued wind energy growth in the region will go hand-in-hand with the 2x500kV Cardones-Polpaico trunk line expansion, regional energy minister Marcelo Salazar was quoted as saying.

The transmission project, which is awaiting environmental approval, consists of a high tension line spanning 753km from Copiapó in the north to capital Santiago.

The Punta Palmeras announcement follows the official opening this month of the 110MW Los Cururos wind farm in Coquimbo and the startup of construction of Enel Green Power's 19MW Lalackama II PV solar plant in northern Antofagasta region (II).

BNamericas will host its 11th Southern Cone Energy Summit in Lima, Peru, on November 12-13. Click here to download the agenda.