Atacama desert solar energy

What is the solar potential of the Atacama Desert?

The solar potential of the Atacama Desert (see Fig. 1a) has begun to be exploited. Deployment of utility-scale PV power plants soared enormously within recent years; while the PV power capacity was only 3.6 MWp in 2012, it increased to 1.8 GWp by December 2017 4.

Does Atacama have solar power?

On account of these characteristics, Atacama has exceptional conditions for producing solar power, and effectively, the solar power installed capacity in this region represents 92.9% of the total installed capacity in Chile (4,150 MW) . The potential of Atacama for solar energy production has made it called “the solar El Dorado” .

Where is the Atacama Desert located?

In the north-central part of the country is located the Atacama Desert. With an area of 105,000 km 2, it covers most of the Antofagasta region and the northern part of the Atacama region . It is one of the driest places in the world and one of the few where annual irradiance exceeds 2,500 kWh/m 2 .

Does RSDs influence photovoltaic energy generation in the Atacama Region?

However, photovoltaic energy generation relies on not only RSDS , but also other variables, such as surface air temperature (TAS) and surface wind velocity (sfcWind). In this vein, the existing literature is insufficient to provide useful meteorological and climatological information for PV generation in the Atacama region.

Does Chile have a solar thermal tower?

Chile’s Atacama desert is home to the only solar thermal tower in Latin America. The imposing 240-meter construction is one of the pillars of the country’s ambitious green energy program that began in 2019 and aims to completely replace fossil fuels by 2040.

Are there aerosols in the Atacama Desert?

Although few measurements are available for the Atacama desert, aerosols are expected to be abundant in the Atacama Desert due the dry and arid conditions that tend to favor wind-blown dust.