French multinational electric utility company Engine has commissioned a solar module testing facility and and innovation centre in Chile’s Atacama Desert, a local media reported The desert region is known to have the world’s highest solar radiation.
The company is testing six bifacial panels from three manufacturers, two trackers and string inverters. Last year, it announced a 1 GW renewables development plan for Chile.
Also, the company has purchased a special vehicle with a 48-MW wind farm and a 34.4-MW hydropower plant in the country. It is reported that the company has already started operating the assets.
Also, Engie is expecting the assets to benefit its net income of $3 million for the second half of 2020, media reports said. The wind farm Monte Redondo comprising 24 turbines is located in the Coquimbo region, while Laja hydropower plant in the Biobio region. The latter commenced operations in 2015.
More recently, Engie announced that it will appoint a new CEO in September as it transitions toward renewable energy in the coming months. Engie Chairman Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, told a local media, “We want the CEO job to be filled by year-end, which implies choosing the right candidate in September.”
The company is also working with Huisman Geo, EBN and TNO to explore a new drilling technique, media reports said. However, the exact location for the activity will be announced in 2021.