EDF's Chilean JV unveils 480-MW solar farm in Atacama Desert

French utility EDF on Monday inaugurated the 480-MW CEME1 solar farm in Chile’s Atacama Desert, and announced that is has a co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the works.

The mega-plant, consisting of 882,000 solar panels covering 435 hectares (1,075 acres) of land in the middle of the desert, is Chile’s largest solar farm so far. It was built by EDF’s Chile-based joint venture (JV) Generadora Metropolitana, set up in partnership with Chilean energy company AME.

PowerChina served as the construction contractor.

Generadora Metropolitana started energising the solar farm in March this year. EDF said that the JV is now working on adding 1,200 MWh of BESS capacity to store the power generated by the CEME1 plant and increase its efficiency.

“EDF is proud to contribute to Chile’s energy transition with this landmark solar plant which is a key asset of the hybrid thermal and renewable platform we are developing in the country,” said Beatrice Buffon, EDF Group Senior Executive Vice-President in charge of the International Division and Chairman of EDF Renewables.

“The inauguration of CEME 1 is a milestone not only for Chile, but also for EDF due to its size and the innovations implemented in its construction. With this project we strengthen the Group’s position in Chile as we continue our path towards a carbon-neutral and sustainable future,” Buffon added.

EDF has 770 MW of installed renewables capacity in Chile.

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