Concerns Rise Over Chile’s Green Hydrogen Plant Threatening Astronomical Observations

Lead: The construction of a massive green hydrogen plant by AES Andes in Chile is raising alarms among astronomers. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) reported that the project could increase light pollution by at least 35% at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and even more at the under-construction Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). This development, located in the Atacama Desert, is crucial as it threatens the exceptional stargazing conditions that have made the region a hub for astronomical research.

Impact on Light Pollution

The ESO’s recent analysis indicates significant potential drawbacks from the hydrogen project:

• Light pollution at the VLT could rise by 35%.
• The Cherenkov Telescope Array could see an increase of 55%.
• Additional atmospheric turbulence and vibrations could damage sensitive astronomical equipment.

The findings have raised concerns about the long-term viability of astronomical operations in the region. “It will reach a point where it is highly likely that we won’t be able to operate these telescopes,” stated Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo, ESO’s representative in Chile.

Developer’s Response

Despite the alarming analysis, AES Andes maintains that their project will utilize the best technologies and strictest standards to avoid significant impacts. A company spokesman said:

“We are still working on gathering data from the ESO document to understand the discrepancies between ESO’s numbers and our own analysis.”

The Importance of the Atacama Desert

Covering 3,000 hectares, the proposed green energy site will be positioned near key observatories:

• 11 km from the Paranal Observatory (home to the VLT)
• 5 km from the CTAO
• 20 km from the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)

The Atacama’s arid climate and stable weather conditions make it one of the best locations in the world for astronomical observation, as highlighted by a 2023 study showing it has the darkest skies among 28 leading observatories.

Discrepancies Between Assessments

The ESO’s conclusions are based on an environmental-impact report from AES submitted to Chile’s Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA). This report will govern the project’s approval status. According to Martin Aubé, a light pollution expert involved in the analysis:

“Increasing the brightness of the sky is like reducing the size of the telescope mirrors.”

Conclusion: As plans for the green hydrogen plant move forward, the debate intensifies over balancing renewable energy developments with the preservation of pristine astronomical conditions in Chile. The outcome of this environmental evaluation will determine the future of some of the most significant telescopes in the world.

Keywords: green hydrogen plant, light pollution, European Southern Observatory, Very Large Telescope, Atacama Desert, astronomy, environmental evaluation, AES Andes, Chile.

Hashtags: #GreenHydrogen #Astronomy #LightPollution #ChileanObservatories #SustainableEnergy #EnvironmentalImpact



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