Cerro Dominador Solar Thermal Plant, combined concentrated solar power and photovoltaic plant
The Cerro Dominador Solar Thermal Plant is a power generation facility in the Antofagasta Region that combines concentrated solar technology with photovoltaic panels across a large desert site. A tower over 250 meters tall is surrounded by many mirrors that focus sunlight onto molten salt inside, allowing the plant to store heat and continue producing electricity for hours without direct sun.
Construction started in 2014 and finished in 2021, with a brief work stoppage in 2015 when workers protested labor conditions. The plant was built as part of Chile's push to increase renewable energy production and reduce reliance on coal and natural gas.
The site sits in the Atacama Desert where skies remain clear most of the year and sunlight is intense. Visitors should prepare for extreme heat and dryness, noting that the facility is located in a remote area with little shade or shelter from the elements.
The plant can generate electricity for at least 17 hours without direct sunlight thanks to its molten salt heat storage system, allowing it to keep producing power at night. This rare capability among solar facilities in Latin America enables the plant to provide steady power around the clock.
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