Overview
Boléro East is a 76.7 MW operational solar PV facility in Chile's Antofagasta Region, contributing to the country's renewable energy expansion under national clean energy targets.
Boléro East is a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant located in the Antofagasta Region of Chile, one of the world's premier areas for solar energy due to its high solar irradiance. The facility has an installed capacity of 76.7 MW and is currently operational, placing it in the medium-to-large scale category for solar PV plants in Chile. It supports the country's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and aligns with Chile's Renewable Energy Law (Law 20.257) and its updated Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. The plant operates under Chile's regulatory framework for non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE), which includes tax incentives, grid priority dispatch, and a goal of 70% renewable electricity by 2030. As a solar PV facility, it uses photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity, with no fuel costs and low operational emissions. The 76.7 MW capacity is typical for utility-scale solar projects in the region, which often range from 50 MW to over 200 MW. Boléro East contributes to the diversification of Chile's energy matrix, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enhancing grid stability in the northern grid system (SING). The facility's location in the Atacama Desert, one of the sunniest places on Earth, ensures high capacity factors. Its operation supports local employment during construction and maintenance phases and helps meet the growing electricity demand from mining and industrial activities in the region.
Environmental context
The Antofagasta Region features extreme aridity and high solar radiation, making it ideal for solar PV but also posing challenges such as water scarcity for panel cleaning and dust accumulation. The facility's land use is typical for desert solar farms, with minimal impact on local ecosystems due to the sparse vegetation and low biodiversity. However, large-scale solar installations can affect local wildlife, including birds and reptiles, through habitat fragmentation and collision risks. Mitigation measures such as wildlife corridors and dust control are often implemented.
Frequently asked questions
Boléro East is located in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile, near the city of Calama, in the Atacama Desert.
Boléro East has an installed capacity of 76.7 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-to-large scale solar photovoltaic facility.
The operator of Boléro East is not publicly listed, but it is part of Chile's growing portfolio of solar PV plants developed under the country's renewable energy framework.
Chile's renewable energy sector is governed by Law 20.257 (NCRE Law), which mandates a gradual increase in renewable energy generation, and the country's goal of 70% renewable electricity by 2030. Solar PV plants benefit from tax incentives and priority grid dispatch.
Boléro East helps Chile reduce its carbon footprint by generating clean electricity, diversifying the energy mix away from fossil fuels, and supporting the national target of carbon neutrality by 2050.