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ENERCON installed 140 wind turbines in the Atacama Desert on behalf of energy utility Colbun // Completion of a project under challenging conditions
What began in October 2022 with the delivery of the first rotor blades to the port of Antofagasta in Chile has now culminated with the official inauguration of the Horizonte wind farm. Last November, the construction site team installed the last of a total of 140 ENERCON E-160 EP5 E3 wind turbines in the middle of the Atacama Desert during a night shift. Even then, it was a special moment, because the path to implementing one of the largest energy projects in Chile had been a challenging one.
Strong winds, dust, extreme temperature fluctuations and almost no infrastructure were the conditions under which one of the largest wind farms in Chile was to be built. ‘This location, about a 2-hour drive from the nearest city, demanded a lot from us in all phases of the project, both from a logistical and anorganisational point of view’, says Carla Tapia, Sales and After Sales Manager in Latin America. ‘The fact we can stand in a finished wind farm today is thanks to the outstanding teamwork, the good communication with our customer Colbun and the tireless commitment of all those involved despite all the adversities.’
The project area of Horizonte covers 800 hectares. Extensive infrastructure has been set up to realise the project. More than 100 kilometres of roads lead through the area, and container villages serve as accommodation and workspaces for the construction site team during their long assignments. In view of the remote location, precautions have also been taken for medical emergencies: for example, two ambulances and a helicopter are permanently available at the site, which are available around the clock in case of emergencies.
The 140 E-160 EP5 turbines with E-nacelle were installed on custom steel towers at a height of 95 metres. They have a total capacity of 816 MW. After commissioning, the wind farm is expected to produce around 2,400 GWh of energy per year. In this way, around 700,000 households could be supplied with energy from onshore wind and at the same time 1.2 Mt CO2e could be saved.
‘Horizonte is a shining example of what is possible when people come together, united by the common goal of making our energy supply cleaner and more sustainable’, says Mino Cobas, Regional Head Southern Europe / Latin America. ‘The constructive cooperation with our customer Colbun and around 20 other partners on the construction site has made an exceptional project a reality.’
'ENERCON has played a fundamental role during the implementation of the Horizonte wind farm, being the main supplier for the project and the assembly of the wind turbines. The experience, dedication, and commitment of the various professionals at ENERCON have been crucial to the success of our project', said Victor Santiago, Wind Project Manager at Colbun. 'We hope to further strengthen this partnership in future projects and work together towards a responsible and sustainable energy transition.'
‘We are pleased to contribute to a sustainable and fossil-free energy supply in Chile and Latin America with our products’, says Uli Schulze Südhoff, ENERCON CCO. ‘Installing wind turbines in the middle of the Atacama Desert not only requires advanced and solid technology, but also a highly dedicated team that makes the project a success. A big thank you goes to Colbun for the close cooperation.’
As a provider of integrated solutions for the connected Green Energy Ecosystem, ENERCON supports its customers in the realization of onshore wind energy projects. To fully unlock project potential, the company combines its high-performance, high-yield wind turbines with complementary solution components and services, enhancing customer benefits and the overall value of wind energy. The range of the solution portfolio, from which customers can select modules according to their requirements, extends from planning and installation to management and control, service and maintenance, and optimization of system performance during the operational phase.
As a pioneer in renewable energy with over 40 years of experience and a deep understanding of the demands of a changing energy system, ENERCON’s scope has always extended beyond mere wind turbines. With the mission ‘Energy for the World’, the company has been committed to sustainable energy generation from onshore wind since 1984. Thanks to its innovative turbine technology, high quality standards, and an installed total capacity of more than 65 gigawatts, ENERCON is among the world’s leading renewable energy companies.
With extensive expertise in the area of ‘holistic project development’, ‘connected operations’, and ‘smart optimization’, a dense service network, and a broad network of partners and service providers, ENERCON is a competent and reliable partner for its customers in all project phases. Headquartered in Aurich, Lower Saxony, the company employs around 13,000 people at administrative, sales, production, and service locations worldwide.
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