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Chile Warms Up to Solar Energy Solutions
CHILE - A water pump driven by solar energy sprinkles the first environmentally friendly water drops from irrigation systems in northern Chile. Energy minister Marcelo Tokman has just opened four new systems in Region IV, a region that pioneers in renewable energy. Chile's National Energy Commission (CNE) launched this project together with Region IV's regional government and the Agriculture Ministry. It is a part of a bigger international project that works to provide electricity to rural areas with non-conventional renewable energy.
The solar panels provide a surplus of energy to the already existing electricity network and run the water pumps that are connected to the irrigation systems. This is an important step towards sustainable energy solutions in agricultural regions.
“This kind of project will doubtlessly improve the quality of life of the people who use it,” said Tokman. “And it sets as an excellent example, proving that it is possible to depend solely on renewable energy in rural areas.”
Tokman underlined the big difference this installation makes for people in isolated areas, stressing that it has been an economically favorable decision to make.
The four new systems each consist of a generator capable of producing 500 W, a specially designed water pump, a control panel, a tank where water accumulates, and the irrigation system. Each irrigation system covers from a half to one hectare of cultivated land.
The solar panel project is not the first renewable energy initiative in Region IV, reports The Santiago Times. Last year it was the first region in the country to install a wind farm and to provide solar power solutions for families that live out of reach of the electricity grid.
A similar initiative is currently being carried out in far northern Chile's Region I, where some private houses are getting solar panels installed, Chilean daily La Tercera reported on Monday. The Housing and Urban Planning Ministry plans to provide solar panels to 30 additional houses in the region during 2009.
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