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Chile's Skies Saved: Huge Green Energy Project Canceled
10 Feb
Summary
- A $10bn green hydrogen facility was canceled near world-class telescopes.
- Astronomers warned the project would cause light pollution and vibrations.
- The cancellation protects the Atacama Desert, a prime astronomy site.
Astronomers are celebrating the withdrawal of the proposed INNA project, a massive $10 billion green hydrogen and ammonia production facility. The project, planned for 3,000 hectares in Chile's Atacama Desert, threatened the region's status as the world's premier site for ground-based astronomy. Astronomers expressed grave concerns that the facility's proximity to observatories like Paranal would cause irreparable harm through light pollution, earth vibrations, dust, and increased atmospheric turbulence.
Chile's environmental evaluation service confirmed the project's cancellation after discussions with AES Andes, the subsidiary of US company AES Corporation responsible for the proposal. While AES Andes stated the decision followed a portfolio analysis, astronomers emphasized the urgent need for robust protection measures around professional astronomy sites. The withdrawal ensures the safeguarding of observatories, including the Very Large Telescope and the under-construction Extremely Large Telescope, crucial for groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
The INNA facility would have been located just 11.6 kilometers from the Paranal Observatory. The Very Large Telescope at Paranal has been instrumental in readings contributing to three Nobel Prizes. The Extremely Large Telescope, currently under construction, aims to further advance the search for Earth-like exoplanets. The cancellation averts potential catastrophic impacts on astronomical research in this uniquely clear region.
