The site has a power plant potential of 50 MW for an estimated production of approx. 375 GWh of clean power, avoiding the atmospheric emission of around 250,000 tons of CO2 every year
EGP confirms its position as an early mover in geothermal development in South America, thus boosting an industry endowed with a major potential
Antofagasta, April 6th, 2012 - Yesterday, the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) of the Regional Government of Antofagasta has granted Enel Green Power (EGP), through Geotérmica del Norte (GDN), its joint venture with ENAP, the environmental license for a 50 MW geothermal site named Cerro Pabellón. This will be the first geothermal site to be developed by EGP in Chile and the first in all of South America.
Cerro Pabellón is located in the Pampa Apacheta, Ollague district, in the Antofagasta region, 120 km North East of Calama city (4,300 meters above sea level).
This geothermal site has the potential to feed Chiles Northern Interconnected System (SING) with approximately 375 GWh of reliable base load clean power each year, enough to meet the energy needs of 190,000 households. The plant will help diversify Chiles energy mix, specifically the one of the Antofagasta region, and will cut down annual atmospheric emission by 250,000 tons of CO2 as well as avoid to import of 100,000 tons of diesel and 135,000 tons of coal.
Enel Green Power already has a geothermal installed capacity of about 769 MW between Italy and North America, and is developing further geothermal projects in Italy, US, Central America and, Turkey
About Enel Green Power Enel Green Power is the Enel Group company fully dedicated to the development and management of renewable energy sources in Italy and throughout the world. The Company generated 22.5 billion kWh in 2011 from water, sun, wind and the Earths heat - enough to meet the energy needs of more than 8 million households and avoid the emission of over 16 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Enel Green Power is a world leader thanks to its well-balanced generation mix, which includes all major renewable technologies. The Company has an installed capacity of over 7,100 MW from a mix of sources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal and biomass. Currently, EGP has over 660 operational plants in 16 countries in Europe and the Americas.