Overview
Minera El Tesoro CSP is an 8 MW concentrated solar power plant located in Chile's Antofagasta Region, supplying renewable energy to mining operations.
Minera El Tesoro CSP is a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, near the town of Sierra Gorda in the Antofagasta Region. With a capacity of 8 MW, it is a small-scale CSP facility designed to provide solar thermal energy for industrial use, specifically supporting the Minera El Tesoro copper mine. The plant operates under Chile's renewable energy framework, which includes a national target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and a carbon neutrality goal by 2050. The facility uses parabolic trough technology to concentrate sunlight and generate heat, which is then used to produce steam for electricity generation or direct industrial processes. As a CSP plant, it benefits from thermal energy storage capabilities, allowing for dispatchable power even when the sun is not shining. This 8 MW scale is typical for industrial self-consumption projects in Chile's mining sector, where solar energy helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower operational costs. Environmentally, the plant contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from mining activities, a significant source of emissions in Chile. The Atacama Desert's high solar irradiance makes it one of the best locations for CSP globally. By integrating renewable energy into mining operations, Minera El Tesoro CSP supports Chile's energy transition and demonstrates the viability of solar thermal technology in industrial applications.
Environmental context
The Atacama Desert, where Minera El Tesoro CSP is located, is one of the driest and sunniest places on Earth, offering exceptional solar resource for CSP. The region's mining industry is a major energy consumer, and the shift to solar power reduces local air pollution and water usage compared to fossil fuel alternatives. CSP plants like this one have a low visual impact in the remote desert landscape, but they require significant land area and water for mirror cleaning, which is a concern in arid regions. The plant's thermal storage also helps stabilize the local grid, which faces challenges from variable renewable sources.
Frequently asked questions
Minera El Tesoro CSP is located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, near the town of Sierra Gorda in the Antofagasta Region. Its coordinates are approximately 22.93°S, 69.10°W.
Minera El Tesoro CSP has a capacity of 8 megawatts (MW), making it a small-scale concentrated solar power plant designed to supply energy to the Minera El Tesoro copper mine.
The plant uses parabolic trough mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver tube, heating a heat transfer fluid. This heat is used to generate steam that drives a turbine for electricity or provides direct thermal energy for industrial processes. CSP can include thermal storage for continuous operation.
Chile's renewable energy framework includes a target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. CSP plants benefit from the country's high solar irradiance and are supported by net billing and tax incentives for renewable energy projects.
CSP plants in the Atacama Desert have a low visual impact due to the remote location, but they require land and water for mirror cleaning. They reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels and help integrate renewable energy into the mining sector, which is a major emitter in Chile.