Sonnedix Atacama, 170 MW, starts operations on January 2021

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile has the highest solar irradiation in the world – making it a good place to construct and operate a solar power plant.

Construction of the 170 MWp Sonnedix Atacama plant – Sonnedix’s largest plant to date – in the Pica district in the Tarapacá Region, began in August 2019, following a series of community engagement meetings to ensure the local communities were aware of the solar energy project’s scope, the construction timeframe and the employment and education opportunities. Approximately 400 jobs were created during the construction of the plant, providing opportunities for the local communities in Pica and Pozo Almonte. During the construction phase, Sonnedix worked with the local communities to learn about local social and economic needs in order to establish a long-term development plan to maximise our positive impact.

Sonnedix Atacama Solar is one of the largest PV project in Chile. This plant is crucial to support the country on the way to their committed goal to eliminate electricity generation from coal by 2040. With an extension of 450 hectares and approximately 500,000 panels, Sonnedix Atacama completed its first injection in the country's National Energy System (SEN) last January 30, 2021. The plant will generate approximately 470GWh of clean electricity annually, avoiding around 200,000 metric tons of CO2 per year compared with thermal generation, and supplying enough power for more than 100,000 households in Chile.