Enel opens 1.7-MW innovative PV plant at observatory in Chile

Sep 26, 2016 11:47 CEST by Plamena Tisheva

September 26 – Italian energy group Enel SpA (BIT:ENEL) on Friday inaugurated its 1.7-MW photovoltaic (PV) plant at the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) La Silla observatory in northern Chile.

The La Silla PV plant combines bifacial and smart modules with conventional modules for side-by-side testing. The smart modules have a microchip that allows each panel to deliver electricity regardless of any malfunctions affecting other panels, while the bifacial modules capture solar energy from both sides of the PV panel.

Enel, which has invested USD 3.4 million (EUR 3m) in building the facility, says that the use of the innovative panels is expected to increase power generation by between 5% and 10% compared to a conventional PV plant of the same size.

The solar system has a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with the La Silla astronomical observatory. It will deliver its output to Chile’s Central Region Interconnected System (SIC). The facility is expected to generate about 4.75 GWh a year, enough to meet the needs of some 2,000 Chilean households and more than 50% of the observatory’s annual power demand.

The PV plant is owned by Enel Green Power Chile Ltda, which currently operates over 1 GW of plants in Chile, including 452 MW of wind, 492 MW of solar and 92 MW of hydropower capacity.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.891)

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