In a statement, Solarpack, which develops solar energy projects and provides related services, has declared that the plant will be the first photovoltaic installation in the world to be constructed without any subsidies. The company considers this to be "a milestone in the evolution of solar photovoltaic energy and an example of the significant reduction in the costs thereof".
Reportedly, Codelco, the largest copper producer in the world, will purchase the electricity generated by the solar plant "at a stable long-term price which will be competitive with the market price of electricity in the electrical system of northern Chile (SING)”. This is what is described as ‘grid parity’.
The plant, consisting of 4,080 silicon-based PV modules on single-axis trackers, will occupy an area of 6.25 hectares and will avoid the emission of 1,680 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum. It is expected that the facility will be operational within a year.
Northern Chile is one of the regions with the highest solar radiation on the planet, "almost 2,500 kWh/square-metre/year,” says Solarpack. The company also claims that the new plant "will be the world's most productive to date, with a capacity factor of 31%".
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