Bolivia has officially inaugurated its largest solar farm, a 60 MW photovoltaic development in the Potosi region.
Bolivian president Evo Morales officially inaugurated the Uyuni project in early September. The solar farm covers an area of 180 hectares and is capable of generating enough electricity to meet the needs of half of Potosi’s population.
Uyuni is owned and operated by state-run energy firm Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (ENDE) and is Bolivia’s third commercial-scale solar project. It was built using solar panels provided by Spanish-Bolivian consortium Emias-Elecnor and with $73.6 million of funding from ENDE and the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB).
The project is a part of Bolivia’s Economic and Social Development Plan 2016-2020, which seeks to expand the use of renewable energy in the country.
Construction of another solar project, the 50 MW Oruro PV farm began in August this year.
