The session of the Environmental Assessment Commission (Coeva) of the Ñuble region is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, at 3:00 p.m., in which the Pemuco Wind Farm project, by Engie Chile, which submitted the respective impact declaration, will be voted on. environmental (DIA) on October 6, 2022.
From Engie Chile they stated that the project “will consist of the construction and operation of an energy park generated from the force of the wind, for which they seek to install 27 wind turbines, with a maximum power of 194 MW. This will allow more than 60 thousand homes to be supplied with 100% renewable energy.”
The project, which will be located in the commune of Pemuco, includes a lifting electrical substation and a 4.2 kilometer high voltage line, which will allow the energy generated to be evacuated, until connecting with the Entre Ríos electrical substation.
According to the DIA, the investment will reach US$230 million. The works, which will last 24 months, will employ an average of 200 people, with a peak of 450.
Although the French multinational is one of the largest actors in electricity generation in Chile, this would be the first project it completes in the region, following it gave up building the Las Arcillas natural gas thermoelectric plant (Pemuco), which obtained its resolution environmental rating (RCA) in April 2018.
Environmental evaluation
After 17 months of evaluation, including three deadline extensions, the Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA) recommended approving the project, based on the fact that it complies with environmental regulations, considering that “the owner has corrected the errors, omissions and inaccuracies raised” in the two consolidated reports of clarifications, rectifications and extensions (December 2022 and September 2023) issued by the SEA.
After the last complementary addendum (February 2024), a document presented by the owner with the responses to the observations of the public entities consulted, seven services (DGA, Sernageomin, Conaf, Sernatur, Undersecretariat of Fisheries, Council of National Monuments) agreed. and the SAG), meanwhile, the Environment and Agriculture departments commented with observations. In the case of the Environment, related to monitoring the intermittent shadow effect and noise; and in Agriculture, referring to the information to prove the impact of the soil component, as well as to details of the voluntary environmental commitment on soil improvement.
With this background, the Coeva, chaired by the regional presidential delegate and made up of ten seremis, must make a statement.
Wind generation
If approved, Pemuco will be the third wind project to obtain its RCA, following the Parque Renovable Entre Cerros (46.2 MW solar-wind hybrid), from Consorcio Eólico, in Portezuelo, which obtained it in August 2022; and Dañicalqui Wind Farm (95.2 MW), from Consorcio Eólico, in Yungay, which obtained it in January 2024.
Also under environmental evaluation are: Culenco Wind Farm (248 MW), from the German company Plan 8 Unendliche Energie GmbH, in Ninhue and San Carlos; San Carlos Wind Farm (187.5 MW), from the German Energy Kitchen GmbH, in San Carlos; and Los Coihues Wind Farm (338.4 MW), from the Chilean Aaktei and the Uruguayan HyNewGen, in El Carmen.
Added to these are two Andes Solar projects in alliance with EDP Renewables: Andino Switzerland (100 MW), in Ñiquén and San Carlos; and Andino Melcahue (150 MW), in San Carlos, which have not yet entered the SEA.
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