EDF begins full O&M services for Chile’s second largest solar park
EDF Renewable Services (EDF RS) announced on December 12 that it has begun full operations and maintenance services for Chile’s second largest solar park – the 146 megawatt peak (MWp) Bolero Solar PV plant located in the Atacama Desert in the region of Antofagasta which has the highest level of irradiation in the world.
Dalen Copeland, Vice President of Business Development for EDF Renewable Services said:
“We are excited to announce this expansion of O&M business into South America. We are confident our extensive experience and resources, operating 13 gigawatts (GW) worldwide alongside the EDF Energies Nouvelles Group, will ensure the long-term performance of this project.”
The Bolero facility, jointly owned by EDF EN Chile and Marubeni, sells the energy produced onto the Chilean spot market. The plant incorporates a single axis tracking system by Exosun and NEXTracker with the solar panels sourced from Jinko and Canadian Solar Inc.
EDF Renewable Services has been present in Chile since 2015, offering full O&M Services, such as pre-COD services & commissioning support, and backup services contracts to over 100 MW of additional projects. The Company provided pre-COD services to the Bolero Project and as of November 2017, have taken on full O&M services with six onsite staff.
About Bolero Solar PV plant
Equally owned by EDF Energies Nouvelles, and Marubeni, its Japanese partner, the Boléro solar plant (146 MWc of installed capacity) is the most powerful solar plant commissioned by the EDF Group to date. The plant is capable of supplying 191 000 Chilean households with electricity every year while cutting down on CO2 emissions by 380 000 tons.
Comprising 475 000 photovoltaic modules fitted with solar trackers, the Boléro solar plant covers an area of more than 500 hectares, tantamount to more than 700 football fields. Located in the Atacama Desert, it receives some of the highest solar energy levels in the world.
A local subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, EDF EN Chile launched the project in 2015. The project will boost the local economy, employing an average of 280 people during the construction phase and around twenty people throughout the plant’s service life. EDF Renewable Services is in charge of its operation and maintenance.
Source: Press Release by EDF Renewable Services. Photo Credit: © EDF Energies Nouvelle. Logo. EDF Renewable Services.
