Transelec to build transmission link for 156MW Puelche Sur wind farm in Chile

Mainstream Renewable Power’s Chilean subsidiary Mainstream Chile has selected Transelec, a Chilean power transmission services provider, for the construction of transmission link for the 156MW Puelche Sur wind farm.

The two companies have signed two contracts for the construction, operation and maintenance of the transmission line to connect the Puelche Sur wind farm to the National Energy System.

The wind farm is located in the southern region of Los Lagos and is part of Mainstream’s 1.3GW Andes Renovables platform.

The project is expected to generate enough clean energy for more than 181,000 Chilean households per year, while avoiding over 200,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Mainstream Latam general manager Manuel Tagle said: “We are delighted to sign with Transelec again and to continue working together, this time in the south of Chile.

“In June 2019, we signed an agreement to build a transmission line in the Atacama region that would connect two solar projects, Río Escondido and Valle Escondido, to the National Energy System (SEN).

“This time we will be building in the south and will continue contributing to the diversification of the national energy matrix.”

Construction on the transmission line for Puelche Sur wind farm to begin in March
Construction on the 12.8km long, 220kV transmission line is expected to begin this March. The transmission line will be supported by a total of 42 towers, transmitting the energy generated from the Puelche Sur wind farm to the Frutillar Norte substation.

Transelec business development vice-president Sebastián Fernández said: “This agreement with Mainstream solidifies Transelec’s commitment, competitiveness and agility in bringing clean energy to the matrix, an area that we have been working on in recent years.”

Transelec claims to have transported 56% of the renewable energy consumed by the national energy system through its transmission lines in the past five years.