Ventanas power station
{{#badges:CoalSwarm|Navbar-Chilecoal}} Ventanas is a 875-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Ventanas, Puchuncaví, V Region, Chile. The plant is operated by AES Gener S.A..
Contents
Location
The undated satellite photo below shows the plant, which is near Puchuncaví.
Background
Ventanas power station comprises four units, including a 120 MW unit commissioned in 1964 and a 218 MW unit commissioned in 1977. All four units are fueled by subbituminous coal imported via the attached coal port.[1]
Planned retirement
In June 2019 the Chilean government announced that Unit 1 would be retired by 2022 and Unit 2 would be retired by 2024 as part of a plan to reduce the country's annual CO2 emissions from the current 30 million tonnes (tons) to four million by 2024.[2][3] In December 2019 AES Gener reached an agreement with the Chilean government to move the retirement date for Unit 1 to end of 2020 and the retirement date for Unit 2 to the end of 2022.[4]
Nueva Ventana power station (Ventana Unit 3)
Also known as Nueva Ventanas, the 270 MW Ventanas III plant, whch came online in 2010, is part of the larger Ventanas coal-fired complex operated by AES Generation South America (AES Gener). The Ventanas project dates back to 1964, when the first 120 MW unit (Ventanas I) was installed. This was followed by 220 MW Ventanas II in 1977. A fourth plant, originally called Campiche but also known as Ventanas IV, was added in 2013, making the Ventanas complex one of the largest in Chile.[5]
Campiche power station (Ventana Unit 4)
The latest addition to AES Gener's Ventanas coal-fired complex, Campiche was originally scheduled for completion in May 2011. However, in June 2009, Chile's Supreme Court ordered that construction be halted, citing improper zoning of the plant. AES Gener had already completed 40% of the $500 million project before it was halted. Subsequent regulatory changes allowed construction of the plant to resume, but the project was again suspended in early 2010 as Puchuncaví municipality took legal steps against the plant due to environmental concerns. In July, 2010, AES Gener reached an agreement with Puchuncaví to renew construction of Campiche, promising in return to invest nearly US$80 million in environmental improvements of the company's local thermal power plants, in public projects and forestation.[6] The plant was brought online in March 2013.[7]
Environmental Impact
In late December 2013, several tons of sardines washed up dead on Ventanas beach near the plant, spurring renewed controversy over Campiche's environmental impact and prompting calls for suspension of operations.[8][9][10] In April 2018 a lawsuit was filed against AES Gener by a group of 259 fisherman, demanding damages as a result of AES Gener dumping coal in the bay of Ventanas.[11]
In April 2019 a protest was staged in Ventanas against industrial pollution, including a plan by AES Gener to use additional desalinated sea water at the Ventanas power station.[12]
Project Details
- Sponsor: AES Gener S.A.
- Parent company: AES
- Location: Ventanas, Puchuncaví, V Region, Chile
- Coordinates: -32.7512, -71.4825 (exact)
- Status: Operating (Units 1-4)
- Gross Capacity:
- Type: Subcritical[1]
- Coal Type: Subbituminous[1]
- Coal Source:
- Source of financing:
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Ventana Coal Power Plant Chile," Global Energy Observatory, accessed March 2014
- ↑ Chile to close eight coal-fired stations by 2024, IEEFA, Jun., 2019
- ↑ Gobierno anunció el cierre de dos termoeléctricas a carbón en Puchuncaví, El Observador, Jun. 4, 2019
- ↑ Engie, AES to retire 674 MW of coal capacity in Chile earlier than agreed, Renewables Now, Dec. 10, 2019
- ↑ "Un proyecto con historia,", Nueva Minería y Energía.
- ↑ "AES Gener gets municipal permit to resume work on Campiche TPP," See News, August 17, 2010.
- ↑ "Campiche online, Ventanas now Chile's largest power plant,", BNAmericas, March 2013.
- ↑ "AES GENER reconoce falla en Ventanas que coincide con mortandad de peces en la costa,", El Ciudadano, December 2013.
- ↑ "Ventanas: Nueva varazón de sardinas en zona de termoeléctrica,", La Nación, December 2013.
- ↑ "Piden no autorizar operación de Central Campiche hasta determinar su responsabilidad en muerte de sardinas en Ventanas,", Revista Electricidad, December 2013.
- ↑ Empresa enfrenta nueva demanda de pescadores por vertimiento de carbón en Puchuncaví, Biobio Chile, Apr. 25, 2018
- ↑ Once again on the street: women demonstrate against polluting companies in Chile, Sputnik News, Apr. 19, 2019
