Solventus - Renewable Energy

A power generation system consisting of 152 solar panels will provide 60% of the energy demanded by Chacalluta airport in Arica. The initiative, according to the authorities present at the opening, could be replicated in other northern terminals.

According to the general deputy secretary of the Presidency, Claudio Alvarado, we will be able to know the performance of the facility and plan how it might be applied elsewhere. "Along with generating energy, this system has the advantage that it does not cause environmental problems and invites the design of public policies allowing for intensive use", said Alvarado.

The manager of Chacalluta airport, Rodrigo Silva, explained that since it is the first plant that supplies power to an air terminal, the Department of Aeronautics shall conduct a study to assess the suitability of its installation in other enclosures, "which I think is quite feasible", he said.

For the mayor of Arica, José Durana, it is a "milestone that will enable the region to become the capital of the sun and renewable energies". The project involved an investment of 180 million pesos, provided by the Innovation Fund for Competitiveness.

For Senator Jaime Orpis "it is the beginning of a great development, because our country has advantages in solar energy, and the cost of production has been going down all over the world".

Fernando Roman, representative of the company Solventus, partner in the project, said that "it is no longer necessary to visit other countries to learn about the applications of solar energy, a viable and economic resource for a large part of Chile."

The UTA academic and project leader, Alejandro Rodriguez, explained that the campus will be responsible for the maintenance of the facilities whose behavior is monitored against the action of the weather and the effects of humidity and wind can cause in metallic structures.