Called INNA, the project led by a subsidiary of the energy supplier AES plans to build 1.7 GW of solar capacity and 534 MW of wind power to produce more than 217,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. Part of this hydrogen will be transformed into ammonia for export, while the rest will be liquefied. The complex, with an area of more than 30 square kilometers, is expected to come into being from 2027, with construction work spanning five years.
A call to protect celestial heritage
In a press release dated January 10, the European Southern Observatory denounced the proximity of the project to the telescopes of the Paranal observatory, located between 5 and 11 km from the planned site. According to Xavier Barcons, general director of the organization, “The proximity of the AES Andes industrial megaproject to Paranal poses a critical threat to the most preserved night skies on the planet“.
The ESO fears that construction work and operation of the site will lead to dust emissions, an increase in atmospheric turbulence and especially light pollution, making astronomical observation much less effective.
A requested relocation
For the ESO, the relocation of the project remains the “ only effective way to prevent irreversible damage to Paranal’s unique sky ».
-« Chile, and in particular Paranal, is a truly special place for astronomy – its dark skies are a natural heritage that transcends borders and benefits all humanity said Itziar de Gregorio, ESO representative in Chile. “ It is essential to consider alternative locations for this megaproject that do not endanger one of the world’s most important astronomical treasures. »
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