Chile inaugurates 1st radar station powered 100% by solar energy

A first radar station of the world's air traffic control powered 100% solar energy was inaugurated this Wednesday (24), in the north of Chile, in the Antofagasta region.

A station was opened from DGAC (General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics), public institution responsible for regulating and supervising aerial activity in airspace controlled by the Chile, Ea Thales, a world leader in advanced technologies. 

“A official openingl of this 100% solar powered radar station is a technological milestone for the air traffic control industry not only in Chile, but not world. It places Chile at the forefront of environmentally responsible innovations using cutting-edge technology”, says Wellington Rodrigues, General Director of Thales for the Southern Cone (Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay).

A season is already in Operação, and is located 3.500 meters above sea level in Atacama Desert and guarantees the surveillance of civil and military air traffic in the country.

The system has 340 painéis solares to make the most of the high levels of solar radiation in the region and has a maximum capacity of approximately 960 kWh per day, covering an area of ​​10 thousand square meters.

A season also uses backup batteries and generators to ensure the general operation of the station and protect against possible power outages or limited availability of regular sources.

O work is composed by primary surveillance radar STAR NG and a rsecondary surveillance adar RSM Mode S. Combined, they guarantee operational surveillance for civil air traffic control, allowing a significant increase in the safety and efficiency of air operations in northern Chile.

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