POWERCHINA’s CEME1 Project in Chile Launches, Promoting Clean Energy and Land Resilience

POWERCHINA’s CEME1 project in Chile begins operations, becoming the nation’s largest solar facility. It advances renewable energy and land resilience, coinciding with the UN World Day to Combat Desertification. The project will generate significant clean energy while supporting local employment and Chile’s carbon emissions reduction goals.

In a significant step forward for renewable energy, Power Construction Corporation of China, also known as POWERCHINA, has marked the commercial launch of its CEME1 photovoltaic project in Chile. This facility becomes the largest single-entity solar plant in the country and its initiation coincides with the United Nations’ World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. It serves not only as a beacon for green energy but also as a means of protecting vulnerable ecosystems while pursuing carbon neutrality goals.

Situated in the Atacama Desert, recognized as the driest nonpolar desert globally, this project lies about 1,300 kilometers away from Santiago, Chile’s capital. The CEME1 project boasts a noteworthy capacity of 480 megawatts and covers about 400 hectares. It includes a photovoltaic field, a 33/220 kV boosting station, as well as a 9.2-kilometer transmission line—all developed under POWERCHINA’s oversight.

Not just a solution for climate change, CEME1 also fits within the global efforts to counteract land degradation. Given that it is estimated that over 40% of the world’s land has been compromised and droughts are worsening, projects like CEME1 offer much-needed sustainable paths forward for energy production and land resilience.

The extreme conditions of the Atacama Desert, characterized by high temperatures, intense ultraviolet rays, and frequent sandstorms, posed serious challenges during construction. Nonetheless, the project team successfully navigated these hurdles through thorough resource management and efficient planning, realizing the project within a targeted framework.

With commercial operations now underway, CEME1 is anticipated to yield around 2,863 megawatt-hours of electricity daily. This energy output is projected to provide clean power to approximately 400,000 homes while contributing to a reduction of about 280,000 tons of carbon emissions every year, thus aiding Chile’s carbon neutrality objectives set for 2050.

The successful completion of CEME1 clearly marks a vital commitment from POWERCHINA towards the global renewable energy movement. The company has showcased its ability to undertake vast energy projects, even under less-than-ideal conditions. This strengthens their position in the competitive international market while significantly enhancing Chile’s renewable energy framework.

CEME1 demonstrates POWERCHINA’s dedication to quality overseas projects, overcoming the severe weather challenges of its location with innovative and resilient designs. The advanced support structures deployed at the photovoltaic station ensure operational stability, particularly in this seismically active region.

Utilizing a dome-type fixed structure, the project optimizes land use by streamlining photovoltaic module arrangements and minimizing maintenance roads. This not only maximizes energy production capacity but also makes effective use of available land.

Moreover, the Project Owner has expressed their confidence in POWERCHINA, particularly due to the successful completion of this project. The initiative has created nearly 1,000 direct jobs during its peak construction phase and includes collaborations with local communities to offer educational and skills programs, fostering a new generation of professionals in Chile’s renewable sector.

The CEME1 project by POWERCHINA in Chile has officially commenced operations, reinforcing its role as the largest solar facility in the country and coinciding with global efforts to combat desertification. This initiative not only promotes clean energy to combat climate change but also supports significant employment and economic growth in local communities. Furthermore, it serves as a major step towards Chile’s renewable energy goals, showcasing POWERCHINA’s ability to deliver high-quality projects under duress.

Original Source: www.wvnews.com