“Cerro Dominador”: Innovative thermosolar energy project. Atacama Region, Chile.

In the midst of the Atacama Desert, Cerro Dominador is an innovative thermosolar energy project (100 Mw), which does not use photovoltaic panels but 10,600 heliostats (mirrors). Heat is concentrated and stored, and then transformed into molten salts that generate electricity through a steam turbine. In this way, it can store energy throughout the day.

This project, from our client Cerro Dominador, is the first of its kind in Latin America. Yesterday, for the first time, it was synchronized with Chile’s electrical system. It will deliver energy by stages to the national grid until its full incorporation.

PHOTOVOLTAIC PLANT OPERATION

• Collection of solar energy through panels that convert sunlight, by means of the photovoltaic effect, into direct electric current.
• Conversion to alternating current through groups of photovoltaic inverters from the power generated in the panels.
• Transport of the alternating energy through an electrical network distributed throughout the solar field collecting the power from each group of inverters.
• Coordination of the energy dispatches of the thermosolar and photovoltaic plants through a Control Center.
• Interconnection of the plant to the Chilean power grid, through an elevator substation that increases the voltage up to the point of interconnection and a disconnecting substation that connects the output of the plant with the existing electrical lines.

OPERATION OF THE THERMOSOLAR PLANT

• Power is captured through heliostats, mega-mirrors that follow the solar trajectory with a two-axis movement. These point to the receiver located at the top of the tower.
• Absorption of the radiation by heating a stream of cold molten salts to a temperature of 565°C.
• Storage of the hot salts in a tank system.
• Extraction of hot salts from the tanks to transfer the heat to water and create steam.
• Generating power using a steam turbine.