View source for Cerro Dominador Solar Thermal Plant

{{Short description|Chilean electrical plant}}
{{Infobox power station
| name                    = Cerro Dominador Solar Thermal Plant
| name_official           = Planta Solar Cerro Dominador
| image                   =
| image_caption           =
| country                 = [[Chile]]
| location                = [[Antofagasta Region|Antofagasta]]
| coordinates             = {{Coord|22.77191|S|69.47994|W|type:landmark_region:CL-AN|display=inline,title}}
| status                  = Operational
| construction_began      = May 2014<ref name=startco>{{cite web|title = Comienzan trabajos de primera planta termosolar en Latinoamerica|url = http://www.elmensajero.cl/?p=43298|trans-title=First solar thermal plant works begin in Latin America|work=Periodista1|publisher = El Mensajero|language=ES|date=14 May 2014|accessdate = 22 May 2014|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140522033853/http://www.elmensajero.cl/?p=43298|archivedate = 22 May 2014}}</ref>
| commissioned            = June 8th 2021
| decommissioned          =
| cost                    = est. $1 billion
| owner                   = [[EIG Global Energy Partners]]
| operator                =
| employees               =
<!------------------------- SOLAR POWER STATIONS -->
| solar_type              = CPVCSP
| solar_csp_technology    = T
| solar_collectors        = 10,600
| solar_collectors_area   =
| solar_site_resource     =
| solar_tracker           =
<!------------------------- GENERAL -->
| ps_site_area            = {{cvt|750|ha}}
| ps_site_elevation       =
| ps_feed-in_tariff       =
| ps_revenue              =
| ps_combined_cycle       =
| ps_cogeneration         =
| ps_thermal_capacity     =
<!------------------------- PRODUCTION -->
| ps_units_operational    = 100 MW
| ps_units_manu_model     =
| ps_units_uc             = 110 MW
| ps_units_planned        =
| ps_units_cancelled      =
| ps_units_decommissioned =
| ps_electrical_capacity  = 210 MW
| ps_electrical_cap_fac   =
| ps_annual_generation    = 950 GW·h (secured sale)
| ps_storage_capacity     = 1,925 MW·h<sub>e</sub>
| website                 =
}}
'''Cerro Dominador Solar Power Plant''' (Spanish: '''''Planta Solar Cerro Dominador''''') is a 210-[[megawatt]] (MW) combined [[concentrated solar power]] and [[photovoltaic]] plant<ref name=reborn>{{cite web
|url=http://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/9152775/05/18/Abengoa-se-alia-con-Acciona-para-una-planta-solar-en-Chile-de-650-millones.html
|title=Abengoa se alía con Acciona para una planta solar en Chile de 650 millones
|last1=Mesones
|first1=Javier
|last2=Esteller
|first2=Rubén
|date=22 May 2018
|website=www.eleconomista.es
|publisher=[[El Economista (Spain)|Editorial Ecoprensa, S.A.]]
|language=ES
|trans-title=Abengoa teams up with Acciona for a 650 million-euro solar plant in Chile
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528061642/http://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/9152775/05/18/Abengoa-se-alia-con-Acciona-para-una-planta-solar-en-Chile-de-650-millones.html
|archive-date=28 May 2018
|url-status=live
|access-date=27 June 2018}}</ref> located in the [[Communes of Chile|commune]] of [[María Elena, Chile|María Elena]]<ref>[http://seia.sea.gob.cl/mapa/visualizacion/PuntoRepresentativo/index.php?idExpediente=2128879352 {{in lang|es}} Ficha del Proyecto:“PLANTA SOLAR CERRO DOMINADOR” – Location Map] Servicio de evaluación ambiental retrieved January 25, 2014</ref> in the [[Antofagasta Region]] of [[Chile]], about {{convert|24|km|miles}} west-northwest of [[Sierra Gorda, Chile|Sierra Gorda]]. The project was approved by the Chilean government in 2013 and construction was started by Abengoa Solar Chile, a branch of the multinational [[Abengoa]] Spain. The plant was inaugurated on June 8, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acciona.com/updates/news/cerro-dominador-csp-plant-chile-officially-opens/?_adin=02021864894|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902144613/https://www.acciona.com/updates/news/cerro-dominador-csp-plant-chile-officially-opens/?_adin=02021864894|archive-date=2021-09-02|title=Cerro Dominador CSP plant in Chile officially opens}}</ref> A follow-up project called Likana Solar bid $33.99/MWh in an auction in August 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.revistaei.cl/2021/08/31/licitaciones-de-suministro-concentracion-solar-de-potencia-logro-record-de-us339-por-mwh/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210902144930/https://www.revistaei.cl/2021/08/31/licitaciones-de-suministro-concentracion-solar-de-potencia-logro-record-de-us339-por-mwh/|archive-date = 2021-09-02|title = Licitaciones de suministro: Concentración Solar de Potencia logró récord de US$33,9 por MWH}}</ref>
==History==
Construction started in May 2014.<ref name=startco/> On 29 August 2015, workers mobilization started a strike over poor working conditions.<ref>[http://www.elnortero.cl/noticia/sociedad/5-dias-de-paralizacion-llevan-trabajadores-de-proyecto-atacama-1 5 días de paralización llevan trabajadores de proyecto Atacama 1]. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2016.</ref> Following Abengoa financial woes, construction halted in January 2016, after about 1,500 workers were fired from the project, leaving only maintenance personnel on site.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-30/abengoa-said-to-plan-return-to-work-on-giant-chilean-solar-plant Abengoa Said to Plan Return to Work on Giant Chilean Solar Plant]. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.</ref><ref>[http://renewables.seenews.com/news/abengoa-may-resume-work-on-chilean-csp-project-in-q4-report-538237 Abengoa may resume work on Chilean CSP project in Q4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009201155/http://renewables.seenews.com/news/abengoa-may-resume-work-on-chilean-csp-project-in-q4-report-538237 |date=2016-10-09 }}. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.</ref> Construction progress was more than 50% complete.<ref>[http://www.revistatecnicosmineros.com/abengoa-retoma-construccion-de-millonario-proyecto-solar/ Abengoa retoma construcción de millonario proyecto solar]. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.</ref> In October 2016,
[[EIG Global Energy Partners]] became the sole owner of the project, after acquiring the participation of Abengoa, which remained as a technological partner and builder.<ref name=reborn/>
In February 2018, after Abengoa completed the construction of the 100 MW photovoltaic section, the plant started operation.<ref name=reborn/>
In May 2018, EIG Global Energy Partners closed a $758 million financing and Abengoa partnered with [[Acciona]] to restart construction and execute the second phase of the CSP section, which happened in June 2018. Among the financing funders are [[Natixis]], [[Deutsche Bank]], [[Société Générale]], [[ABN AMRO]], [[Banco Santander]], [[Commerzbank]] and [[BTG Pactual]].<ref name=reborn/><ref name=financing>{{cite web
|url=http://helioscsp.com/cerro-dominador-closes-758-million-financing-for-the-first-concentrated-solar-power-plant-in-latin-america/
|title=Cerro Dominador Closes $758 Million Financing For The First Concentrated Solar Power Plant in Latin America
|date=18 May 2018
|website=www.elioscsp.com
|publisher=Protermosolar
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627135246/http://helioscsp.com/cerro-dominador-closes-758-million-financing-for-the-first-concentrated-solar-power-plant-in-latin-america/
|archive-date=27 June 2018
|url-status=live
|access-date=27 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.solarpaces.org/chiles-cerro-dominador-csp-pv-project-signs-financing/
|title=Chile's 210 MW Cerro Dominador CSP-PV Project Signs Financing
|date=19 May 2018
|website=www.solarpaces.org
|publisher=[[SolarPACES]]
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627140532/http://www.solarpaces.org/chiles-cerro-dominador-csp-pv-project-signs-financing/
|archive-date=27 June 2018
|url-status=live
|access-date=27 June 2018}}</ref>
In February 2020, the melting process of 45,000 tons salt in the thermal storage unit was initiated. The salt mixture was produced by the [[Sociedad Química y Minera|SQM mining company]] (Sociedad Química y Minera, a Chilean chemical supplier of fertilizers, iodine, lithium and industrial chemicals).<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.latercera.com/pulso/noticia/cerro-dominador-da-inicio-hito-fusion-sales-producidas-sqm/1017985/
|title=Cerro Dominador da inicio a hito de fusión de sales producidas por SQM
|date=21 February 2020
|website=www.latercera.com
|publisher=[[La Tercera]], [[Copesa|GrupoCopesa]]
|language=ES
|access-date=2 April 2020
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222033339/https://www.latercera.com/pulso/noticia/cerro-dominador-da-inicio-hito-fusion-sales-producidas-sqm/1017985/
|archive-date=22 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://mmypem.com/en/chile-initiated-the-salt-melting-works-on-the-cerro-dominador-thermosolar-plant/
|title=[Chile] Initiated the salt melting works on the Cerro Dominador Thermosolar Plant
|date=27 February 2020
|website=www.mmypem.com
|publisher=Montajes Mecánicos y Puestas En Marcha
|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref>
Its solar receiver weighing 2,300 tons was raised at the end of February 2020 to a height of 220 meters in the central tower of the complex, giving the tower a total height of 252 meters.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.evwind.es/2020/03/05/cerro-dominador-the-first-concentrated-solar-power-tower-plant-in-latin-america-raises-its-receiver-at-220-meters-high/73936
|title=Cerro Dominador, the first concentrated solar power tower plant in Latin America, raises its receiver at 220 meters high
|date=5 March 2020
|website=REVE News}}</ref>
== Cerro Dominador CSP project ==
The Cerro Dominador project<ref>[http://seia.sea.gob.cl/expediente/ficha/fichaPrincipal.php?modo=ficha&id_expediente=2128879352 Ficha del Proyecto:“PLANTA SOLAR CERRO DOMINADOR”] Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental</ref> will see the construction and operation of a 110 MW [[concentrated solar power]] plant with storage in the northern [[Chile]]an region of [[Antofagasta Region|Antofagasta]], located in the [[Atacama Desert]], one of the driest places with the highest solar radiation on earth. When finished, Cerro Dominador will be the largest CSP power plant with storage in [[Latin America]].<ref>{{cite news|title='A solar Saudi Arabia': While Trump promotes coal, Chile and others are turning to cheap sun power|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/world/2017/03/31/while-trump-promotes-coal-other-countries-are-turning-to-cheap-sun-power/ |accessdate=2 April 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=31 March 2017}}</ref> The facility will have a total aperture area of {{cvt|1,484,000|m2}}, fully usable at noon.<ref name="NREL CSP">{{cite web|title=Concentrating Solar Power Projects - Atacama-1|url=https://solarpaces.nrel.gov/atacama-1|website=www.nrel.gov|accessdate=13 May 2020|archive-date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131213011/https://solarpaces.nrel.gov/atacama-1|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was grid connected in April 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latin America's first CSP plant now online |url=https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2021-04/52580398-latin-america-s-first-csp-plant-now-online-451.htm |website=FinanzNachrichten.de |language=de |date=15 April 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Funcionamiento PS10.jpg|thumb|left | PS10 is the first commercial CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) plant of the World, built in [[ Andalusia ]], [[ Spain ]]. CSP is also called “concentrating solar power” or “concentrated solar thermal”. ]]
==Details==
===Technology===
The Cerro Dominador project has a 110&nbsp;MW solar-thermal tower. This technology uses a series of mirrors (heliostats) that track the sun on two axes, concentrating the solar radiation on a receiver on the upper part of the tower, where the heat is transferred to [[Thermal energy storage#Molten salt technology|molten salts]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20140131162845/http://www.thisischile.cl/9090/2/chile-to-welcome-largest-solar-concentration-plant-in-lat-am/News.aspx Chile to welcome largest solar concentration plant in Lat Am] www.thisischile.cl Thursday, January 16, 2014 retrieved January 27, 2014</ref>
The molten salts then transfer their heat in a heat exchanger to water, generating superheated steam, which feeds a turbine that transforms the kinetic energy of the steam into electric energy using the [[Rankine cycle]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nrel.gov/csp/solarpaces/project_detail.cfm/projectID=3275 |title=Concentrating Solar Power Projects - Atacama-1 |publisher=[[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] |date= 1 July 2015 |accessdate=10 September 2016}}</ref> In this way, the Cerro Dominador plant is capable of generating around 110 MW of power.<ref>[http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/abengoa-to-build-110mw-solar-tower-storage-plant-in-chile-24839 Abengoa to build 110MW solar tower storage plant in Chile] reneweconomy.com.au/ By Giles Parkinson on 13 January 2014</ref>
The plant has an advanced storage system enabling it to generate electricity for up to 17.5 hours without direct solar radiation, which allows it to provide a stable electricity supply without interruptions if required. The Project secured up to 950 GW·h per year sale.
Additionally, the plant has a sub-station and transmission line connected to the SING (Sistema Interconectado del Norte Grande) or Norte Grande Electric Grid.
With 252 metres in height, the main tower is the second tallest man-made structure in Chile after [[Gran Torre Costanera]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=BRAVO |first1=JUAN PABLO |title=Primera planta termosolar en Chile |url=http://infografias.elmercurio.com/20180826-VCT-plantasolar/ |accessdate=25 August 2019 |agency=[[El Mercurio]]}}</ref>
The plant has an estimated lifespan of 30 to 50 years.
===Funding===
The cost of the project is estimated at US$1 billion, and construction started in May 2014. The Chilean government, through [[CORFO]], is providing US$20 million of funding and is also loaning the land where the plant is located. The government also negotiated loans from the [[Inter-American Development Bank]], or "IDB", the [[Climate Investment Funds|Clean Technology Fund]] (dispensed through the IDB<ref>https://www.cif.org/projects/concentrated-solar-power-project</ref>), the German state-owned development bank ([[KfW]]), and the European Union.
A [[Power purchase agreement]] was signed with [[Empresas Copec]] in December 2019, running 5 years from July 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Copec inks PPA with Cerro Dominador Concentrated Solar Power plant |url=http://www.cspfocus.cn/en/market/detail_2449.htm |website=www.cspfocus.cn |date=2019-12-12}}</ref><ref name=copec>{{cite web |title=LatAm solar flagship signs five-year deal to power electric vehicles |date=2019-12-13 |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/transition/latam-solar-flagship-signs-five-year-deal-to-power-electric-vehicles/2-1-723416 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |language=en}}</ref>
===Purpose===
The project is part of Chile's national renewable energy program, intended to provide Chile with cleaner energy, while also reducing its dependency on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.
Chile has set a target to produce 20% of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2025.<ref>[http://cer.gob.cl/en/blog/2013/09/congreso-aprobo-ley-de-fomento-al-desarrollo-de-las-ernc-2025/ Chilean Congress approved new law for NCRE: 20% by 2025] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012052040/http://cer.gob.cl/en/blog/2013/09/congreso-aprobo-ley-de-fomento-al-desarrollo-de-las-ernc-2025/ |date=October 12, 2013 }} Centro de Energías Renovables retrieved January 26, 2014</ref>
Cerro Dominador will prevent the emission of approximately 643,000 tons of [[Carbon dioxide|CO<sub>2</sub>]] into the atmosphere every year. The construction, operation and maintenance of the plant will also act as a catalyst for regional socio-economic development, creating a large number of direct and [[indirect jobs]] in construction, development, commissioning and plant operation as well as a network of services that will promote economic growth in the region.<ref>[http://www.abengoa.com/web/en/noticias_y_publicaciones/noticias/historico/2014/01_enero/abg_20140109.html?q=chile Abengoa to develop South America’s largest solar-thermal plant in Chile] www.abengoa.com retived January 9, 2014</ref>
==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Chile|Renewable energy}}}}
{{Div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Antofagasta]]
* [[Atacama Desert]]
* [[Concentrated solar power]]
* [[List of solar thermal power stations]]
* [[María Elena, Chile|María Elena]]
* [[María Elena Solar Power Plant]]
* [[Renewable energy]]
* [[Solar thermal energy]]
{{Div col end}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.imme.cl/ Municipality of María Elena]
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.sea.gob.cl/ Chile Environmental Authority]
* [https://www.eigpartners.com/ EIG Global Energy Partners]
{{Communes in Antofagasta Region}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cerro Dominador Solar Thermal Plant}}
[[Category:Solar power stations in Chile]]
[[Category:Solar thermal energy]]
[[Category:Energy infrastructure in Antofagasta Region]]