Abstract

Chile is now considered one of the highest potential markets for solar energy, due to the very high solar resource existing particularly in the North and the political boosting by means of becoming legislation. In the Atacama Desert highest irradiation levels in the world are achieved, over 8 kWh m(2) per day. In order to take advantage of it, the Chilean government is intended that 20% of the country's energy from renewable sources in 2025. Under this context, PV and solar thermal commercial plants, including CSP, are already operating and others under construction. In order to actively contribute to the solar resource exploitation in North of Chile, new R D activities are being developed in the last few years by the local universities and research centers. They include the foundations of the Solar Platform of Atacama Desert ( PSDA), in the Antofagasta Region, which aims to host R D pilot-scale solar facilities for demonstrative tests under the natural environment of Atacama Desert. An overview of the related ongoing activities is presented in this work.