Metlen Energy & Metals, a Greek industrial and energy group formerly known as Mytilineos has inaugurated an 89-MW Dona Antonia solar farm in Chile's Coquimbo region.
Dona Antonia Solar Farm Powers 77,000 Homes
The Dona Antonia solar farm which is part of the Pro-Growth project portfolio for the Coquimbo Region is located on a 200-hectare private plot 14 kilometers north of Ovalle. It is equipped with 151,920 solar panels and has a production capacity sufficient to power approximately 77,000 homes.
Image: Collected
“This is our second park in Chile. We are making a huge contribution to the energy transition in the region and the country. The radiation conditions are exceptional in this area, with a robust transmission system and the willingness of the communities and authorities, which has allowed us to promote the local economy and foreign investment.” said Juan Pablo Toledo, Metlen country manager.
Construction of this project started in 2023, employing an average of over 400 workers. By the end of 2025, energy storage batteries will be added reflecting the latest industry trend of optimizing consumption by storing energy generated during daylight hours.
“Chile is our platform for growth in Latin America and Doña Antonia is also an example of how we connect and work in coordination with local communities, to contribute to the sustainable development of the locations where we are present. Through the development of clean energy and adding the use of batteries, we will be able to inject more reliable energy into the system, avoiding inefficiencies such
Metlen Invests $65 Million in Dona Antonia Project
Metlen invested USD 65 million (EUR 59.5 million) in the Dona Antonia project, which is part of the company's 588-MWp build-to-own portfolio in Chile. This project is the second of four solar projects in that portfolio to be completed.
With the integration of the Doña Antonia Park into the National Electric System, the Coquimbo Region now boasts 61 photovoltaic projects with a total installed capacity of 602 MW. This park is the largest in the Limarí province situated north of Ovalle. It is the second of four Metlen parks in Chile which together will contribute nearly 600 MW of clean energy.
Metlen’s $460 Million Solar Portfolio
Doña Antonia is one of four Metlen projects in Chile representing a total investment of US$460 million. The portfolio includes Willka (109.2 MW), inaugurated last December as well as the Tocopilla (227 MW) park in María Elena and the Tamarico (167 MW) park in Vallenar both set to begin operation in 2024. According to a press release from Metlen, the Dona Antonia solar farm will be paired with a battery energy storage system by the end of 2025. All four solar farms have a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Chilean utility Enel Generacion Chile.