PowerChina activates 480 MW CEME1 solar plant in Chile desert

Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA), a China-based infrastructure and energy engineering firm, has commissioned the 480 MW CEME1 solar project in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The facility spans 400 hectares and includes a PV field, a 33/220 kV boost station, and a 9.2 km transmission line. According to POWERCHINA, the project has been built with dome-type fixed mounting systems and structures resistant to wind and seismic activity. The plant is expected to generate 2,863 MWh of electricity daily, supplying around 400,000 households and offsetting 280,000 tons of CO₂ annually. The facility is launched on the UN’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought and aligns with Chile’s 2050 climate goals. POWERCHINA said it created 1,000 local jobs and provided training programs. Earlier this year, POWERCHINA also commissioned the 100 MW Kabwe solar project in Zambia, expanding its renewable energy footprint in challenging environments.