Solarpack secures environmental nod for Chile project

Chilean environmental authorities approved a US$200mn, 100MW solar photovoltaic park that Spain's Solarpack plans to build in Tarapacá region (I) in the north of the country.

The 14-month project, which is being developed by special purpose company Maria Elena Solar, meets applicable environmental standards, according to a resolution from the Tarapacá office of the country's environmental evaluation service SEA.

The complex will boast 384,480 PV panels and supply the northern SING grid via a link at the 220 kV Lagunas-Collahuasi transmission line.

Solarpack already operates five solar plants in Chile: Calama Solar 1 (10.5MWp), Puerto Seco Solar (10.5MWp), Calama Solar 3 (1.1MWp), Pozo Almonte Solar 2 (8.1MWp) and Pozo Almonte Solar 3 (17.3MWp, pictured), all of which supply the SING.

Information from the SEA also shows that its northern Atacama region (III) office has recommended approving Sowitec's US$83mn, 49.6MW Aurora del Huasco solar project. A regional evaluation commission is scheduled to review the project on October 11.

Meanwhile, Grenergy Renovables Pacific pulled solar projects Rauquén (9MW) and Lemu (5MW), both planned for southern Maule region (VII), from the environmental evaluation process, according to the SEA.