Solventus - Renewable Energy

Technological progresses in the development of non-conventional renewable energies have earned their place in the north of the Country. Thus, Chacalluta airport in Arica and Parinacota Region is supplied by a large photovoltaic plant near the airport grounds, which produces a peak of 30 kWh between 11 am and 4 pm. This is achieved by the injection of 80 million provided by the Regional Government of Arica and Parinacota and the European Union-Chile.

The plant is fully automated and requires very little maintenance, making it very attractive for places like this. Currently it injects energy directly to the network, reaching 30 kW at the peak of radiation. The plant has two trackers of 15 kWh each one, covering 60% and weekends close to 100% of the demand of the airport, which significantly improves its carbon emission.

This technology works in simple terms, with a machine that has an astronomical program that has determined the sun position every day of the year, since the sun rises until it sets. Their developers explain that the advantage is that, whether cloudy or sunny days, it always follows the sun, receiving its direct or indirect radiation, which involves having the minimum consumption and maximum power transfer to the network.

This large-scale project is defined by its developers as a giant laboratory since, according to the region qualities, work practices are performed to allow the generation of human capital, not only of engineers, but also of professional technicians. Since last year the plan is supplying power to the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGCA) (General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics) distribution network.

Tarapacá University

The initiative was achieved by Tarapacá University (UTA), which ran for an Innovation Fund for Competitiveness (FIC) in June 2011. Since then, the necessary steps were followed what meant the awarding of an investment of 80 millions.

The one responsible for implementing the project was the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at UTA. "At certain times of the day the plant supplies almost 60% of which is required by the DGAC. That means we have a green airport and its carbon footprint is much lower than in other buildings", explains the engineer in charge of UTA and project director, Alejandro Rodríguez.

The plant supplying the airport, also a cutting-edge company in its field, is the largest in the Chilean Norte Grande and works with leading technology which enables automatically the search for sunlight, and at night, or when sunlight disappears, the plant gets disconnected without human intervention.

The project, due to its magnitude, needed a large physical area. That is why UTA entered into discussions with the General Direction of Airports in Chile, with support from the Regional Government, which provided networks facilitating access to this area belonging to the concession of Chacalluta airport.

About this item, the engineer points out that civil works were performed carefully and in detail by local contractors, since aim was to have a solid base to install the plant. The metal frame was made in Chile and panels and electronic equipment were imported. The installation and commissioning of the plant lasted 15 days and was in charge of the company Solventus Chile.

This project is complemented by a solar plant of similar features to those of Chacalluta airport, but of a smaller scale, with a power of 5 kW installed at the Renewable Energy Center of UTA. It strengthens the various initiatives students and professors are developing about the subject.

For Rodriguez, this initiative "is a great connection with the environment and we want to provide all information about this plant to utilities, private companies and anyone who is interested in investing or knowing about such facilities. Lastly, it is also a technological transfer. We not only want to have the plant but make contributions to improve the facilities, according to the land features, because these plants work really well in Europe, but our climate is very different, and we want to evaluate such environmental conditions."

Meanwhile, the Energy Seremi in the Macro Zona Norte, Carlos Arenas, concludes "that this will be an iconic project and we hope to repeat it not only commercially, but residentially; that houses and buildings start to energize their homes, fundamental aspect that relates to the concept of distributed generation which we aspire to develop in the near future."