The Arica I p3 is a key infrastructure asset in Chile's power generation grid, located on the continent of South America. Designated as a renewable electricity generation station, the facility features an installed capacity of 14 MW. Its primary operation relies on harnessing solar energy resources to generate bulk electricity. Operational management and ownership of the facility are handled by the Enel Green Power, which oversees daily maintenance and grid dispatch integration. The facility was officially connected to the commercial grid in 2016, since which it has maintained regular output, playing a structured role in domestic power supply security. In terms of domestic production capacity within Chile, Arica I p3 occupies the #61 position among all operational solar power plants. Its 14 MW capacity represents a 0.31% share of Chile's total installed solar generating capacity, which currently stands at 4,458 MW. The largest operational solar installation in Chile is the Copiapó Solar Project with an output of 390 MW, making the Arica I p3 approximately 27.9 times smaller by comparison. Across all fuel types and electricity generation technologies country-wide, this facility accounts for 0.0444% of Chile's aggregate generation capacity of 31,543 MW. Based on historical capacity factors characteristic of solar power plants (modeled at 18% for analysis), the facility's expected annual electricity generation is calculated at approximately 22,075 MWh. Applying domestic consumption statistics where an average household in Chile consumes 3 MWh of electricity annually, this level of production is sufficient to meet the energy demands of roughly 7,358 homes. As a clean and sustainable energy project, Arica I p3 contributes to the direct displacement of greenhouse gases, preventing substantial quantities of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere and helping Chile advance toward its renewable energy integration targets. The physical site of the station is located at geographic coordinates -18.4950° latitude and -70.1200° longitude. Analysis of local grid infrastructure shows a density of other assets within a 50-kilometer radius. These nearby facilities include the Arica I (solar, 18 MW), the DIESEL ARICA(GMAR_M1AR) (oil-fired, 14.2 MW), the Arica I p2 (solar, 8 MW), representing a cluster of localized power assets. This geographic placement is vital for reinforcing regional distribution infrastructure and minimizing transmission line losses across this sector of Chile.
10 years old
Chile, South America
Location
Zero Direct Emissions
Arica I p3 is a solar power plant producing approximately 22 GWh of clean electricity per year with zero direct CO₂ emissions during operation.
Lifecycle emissions: ~41 g CO₂/kWh (manufacturing, transport, decommissioning)
Technical Details
- Primary Fuel Type
- Solar
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
Chile- Continent
- South America
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
Nearby Power Plants
An Overview of Solar Power Generation as a Sustainable Energy Source
Solar power generation harnesses the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells or solar thermal systems to produce electricity. The basic principle of solar power generation involves converting sunlight into usable energy. When sunlight hits a PV cell, it excites electrons in the semiconductor material, generating an electric current. This process is known as the photovoltaic effect. Solar thermal systems, on the other hand, use sunlight to heat a fluid that, in turn, produces steam to drive a turbine and generate electricity. Both methods provide a clean and renewable energy source that is gaining significant traction worldwide.
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