Chile has ambitious goals: The country is aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. The planned exit from coal by 2040 is a challenging interim step, as the country currently still obtains 40 per cent of its energy from coal-fired power plants. An enormous transformation is required to achieve the envisaged climate targets, especially in the country’s energy infrastructure. The expansion of renewable energies is an essential element towards this goal. Chile’s geographic and climatic conditions offer enormous potential for realizing good results. The Atacama Desert in the north is one of the places with the highest solar irradiation on earth. About 4000 km from the Pacific coast provides excellent opportunities for wind energy generation. Due to the high volcanic activity, there is also the possibility of generating geothermal energy. Furthermore, Hydroelectricity plays an important role in Chile. However, the interference with nature by damming rivers cannot be underestimated. Other technologies might be preferable considering the available alternatives in the country. An outstanding example of producing renewable energy is the “Cerro Dominador” power plant. Located in the Antofagasta region, this plant is the first thermos-solar power plant in Latin America and was inaugurated in June 2021. It has a solar tower and 10,600 so-called heliostats (reflectors) that redirect solar radiation to a receiver at the top of the 250-meter-high tower. There, the heat is transferred to liquid salts, which can store the energy thus obtained for 17.5 hours. These salts transfer their heat to water in a heat exchanger. This produces superheated steam, which drives a turbine that converts the kinetic energy of the steam into electrical energy using the so-called Rankine cycle. The “Cerro Dominador” can supply up to 380,000 households and is expected to reduce emissions by up to 640,000 tons of CO2 per year.
At the same time, this solar power plant is an excellent example of how sustainable energy production and a region’s socioeconomic development can be combined. The construction, regular operation and maintenance of the plant have created many jobs as well as a network of service providers that will promote the region’s economic growth in the future. Other plants of this type are expected to follow soon. More information about the “Cerro Dominador” can be found by following the below link: https://grupocerro.com In addition, new plants to produce biogas are currently being built. Biogas is a mixture of gases that correspond to natural gas. In a biological process, bacteria are used to produce methane from various regenerative sources, such as food waste, manure from animal husbandry, or biogenic residues from industry, in the absence of oxygen. The resulting raw gas is either purified to natural gas quality and used for chemical processes or converted into electrical energy and heat in gas engines. The main advantage of this technology is, that the gas can be stored and is therefore available for electricity generation when electricity from other renewable energy sources, such as wind and sun, is not or is insufficiently available in winter, or when there is no wind. In addition, waste is thus not only used for energy but also produces a valuable fertilizer for agriculture without the use of natural gas. Since this is a true closed-cycle process, it is a CO2-neutral technology. More information about the “Cerro Dominador” can be found by following the below link.
In addition, new plants to produce biogas are currently being built. Biogas is a mixture of gases that correspond to natural gas. In a biological process, bacteria are used to produce methane from various regenerative sources, such as food waste, manure from animal husbandry, or biogenic residues from industry, in the absence of oxygen. The resulting raw gas is either purified to natural gas quality and used for chemical processes or converted into electrical energy and heat in gas engines. The main advantage of this technology is, that the gas can be stored and is therefore available for electricity generation when electricity from other renewable energy sources, such as wind and sun, is not or is insufficiently available in winter, or when there is no wind. In addition, waste is thus not only used for energy but also produces a valuable fertilizer for agriculture without the use of natural gas. Since this is a true closed-cycle process, it is a CO2-neutral technology.
Source of the image: https://www.emol.com/noticias/Economia/2021/06/08/1023275/cerro-dominador-chile-energia/termosolar.html