As part of an innovative business model that currently positions it as the largest producer and marketer of blueberries in the world, Hortifrut together with Solarity make a photovoltaic energy project a reality in operations in the V Region.

With the aim of promoting the use of renewable and more efficient energies, during 2019, Hortiftut began to develop, together with Solarity, a company specializing in the delivery of clean energy, a photovoltaic project for the electricity consumption of the fields and company plants. The project is completed today with the inauguration of the eighth solar plant installed in Hortifrut fields, this time in the Santa Teresa de Agrícola Mataquito field, in Region V. This is the first floating photovoltaic plant in Chile connected to the electricity grid.

The initiative will allow the annual energy consumed in the Santa Teresa field to be replaced by 53%, also reducing CO2 emissions to the environment. "This is the eighth active solar plant installed in the different operations of Hortifrut Chile, as our goal is to replace at least 50% of the energy used in our fields and production plants," says Juan Ignacio Allende, Corporate General Manager of Hortifrut. In this way, the company maintains its commitment to the environment and communities, ensuring progress in the development and implementation of renewable energy in its operations throughout the country.

The floating solar plant, in addition to being innovative, presents additional benefits compared to conventional installations on the ground, thus helping to reduce the evaporation of water from the dam with the respective savings. Additionally, it increases the efficiency of the solar panels, since being in contact with water decreases their operating temperature. It allows better use of solar energy when space is limited.

"We will install a total of 18 solar plants that we expect will be in active operation during the first quarter of 2021", concludes Allende.