Chile conceived solar power plants

Chile conceived a revolutionary and at first glance strange project: a solar-powered hydroelectric power station . Instead of supplying electricity from solar panels directly to the network, it is fed to pumps pumping water from the sea. In turn, water fills two high-altitude reservoirs for the operation of a hydroelectric power station. Here is such an extraordinary approach.

It would seem, why complexity? The fact is that the hydropower plant’s water reservoir is used to accumulate excess energy, that is, as a kind of accumulator. In addition, the problem of inconstancy of the energy flow from the solar power station, one of the traditional problems of alternative electric power industry, disappears. There will always be water in the tanks for the daily operation of the hydroelectric power station, and in the daytime the pumps will pump up the right amount and replenish the reserves.

The construction site is Chile, the Atacama Desert, about 100 km from Iquique. The contractor is the energy company Valhalla Energia .



Atacama is a unique desert because it separates the Andes from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in a narrow strip. Great situation to take sea water, and then lower it from the mountain. Generally speaking, this is the only place in the world where it is possible to realize such an idea.




An extraordinary idea evokes sincere respect for the creativity of engineers. Power station - 300 megawatts. The cost of construction is estimated at 400 million dollars. Local authorities approved the project last week.

Now Valhalla is looking for investors, hoping to start construction in 2016 and finish within three and a half years. At the same time, she explores three more suitable places in the same Atacama desert.