ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE -- Manufactured in Brazil, the unit is to be installed in a substation that is part of a large solar plant project in the region.




The large transformer weighing 135.2 megatons and along with all necessary, spare parts, and oil required special cranes to hoist and load them onto and off vessels and vehicles as well as special police escorts and road permits.


"When transporting a heavy, oversized piece such as this, many moving parts must come together to form an efficient, risk-free plan," said Marco Intemann, UTC Chile Branch Manager.

A route survey preceded the process in order to make sure that roads and bridges could actually accommodate the oversized load. Once the cargo was safely delivered to its final destination it was successfully placed onto the foundation.


Chile has almost 75% of the installed solar power capacity in Latin America thanks to the "Roadmap to 2050: A Sustainable and Inclusive Strategy" introduced by Chile's Ministry of Energy in 2015, according to which 19% of the country's electricity is to come from solar energy by the end of that deadline.


The Atacama Desert contains some of the most extensive solar power capabilities, a number of additional projects are currently under construction in the region and several more projects are being planned.


Source: UTC