EqualOcean has learned that Chile recently held the inauguration ceremony for the world's first 100% solar-powered air traffic control radar station, marking a significant step towards sustainable development in civil aviation.
The ceremony was presided over by Galo Eidelstein, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Armed Forces (FFAA). He announced that the world's first 100% solar-powered air traffic control radar station has officially been established in the central region of the Atacama Desert, at Cerro Barros Arana in Calama, for use in northern Chilean airspace.
The Atacama Desert, located within Chile, is one of the driest and most solar-intensive regions on Earth, making it an ideal location for solar energy development. According to projections from the Chilean Solar Energy Research Center, if fully developed, the solar energy generation capacity of this desert could be approximately 60 times Chile's national electricity consumption. Chile has already commissioned the Cerro Dominador solar thermal power plant in the heart of the Atacama Desert in 2021, with a capacity of 110 megawatts, sufficient to provide clean electricity to 380,000 Chilean households.
The radar station, developed by the French company Thales for the Chilean Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), is equipped with 340 solar panels. It is integrated with the "STAR NG" primary radar and "RSM" secondary radar, meeting the operational monitoring requirements for both civilian and military airspace, capable of detecting slow and fast-moving targets such as helicopters, commercial aircraft, and jets.
In recent years, Chile's solar power generation industry has seen continuous growth. A study report released by the Chilean Electric Power Companies Association in the first half of last year showed that solar power generation in Chile accounted for 20.3%, surpassing coal-fired power generation (18.7%) for the first time, becoming the second largest source of electricity after natural gas-fired power generation (26%). Additionally, the report stated that renewable energy accounted for 53.8% of Chile's total electricity generation for the first time in 16 years, surpassing thermal power generation.
Analysts point out that the commissioning of this radar station will enhance the safety and reliability of tasks undertaken by the Chilean Civil Aviation Authority.