Creation of the first SIM card made from recycled plastic
Thales and Veolia have joined forces to create the first eco-designed SIM card made from recycled plastic. The polymer, a plastic found in high concentrations in household
Calama Radar Station – An entirely solar-powered Air Traffic Control Radar Station
Thales is to deploy the world's first entirely solar-powered Air Traffic Control radar station in Calama, Chile. This system leverages 330 solar panels to take full advantage of the high levels of sunshine in the region. This solar radar station comprises an advanced primary radar and a secondary radar.
Main project's drivers for reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Energy and resource efficiency
Energy Decarbonisation
Energy efficiency improvements
Improving efficiency in non-energy resources
Emission removal
Financing low-carbon issuers or disinvestment from carbon assets
Reduction of other greenhouse gases emission
Project objectives
The objective is to operate a radar station that satisfies all the operational surveillance requirements of air traffic control, using only sustainable, alternative energy provided by solar panels.
The innovation is not only in the solar panels, but also in the power management system and the advanced battery technology, as well as the back-up generators that are deployed to secure the radar station operations and to safeguard it against power cuts or limited availability of regular sources.
Detailed project description
Thales provides an air traffic control radar solution that allows its Chilean customer to significantly reduce its own operational emissions. This project includes the installation of a surveillance system composed of a primary STAR NG radar, combined with a secondary Mode S radar, the RSM 970S, as well as an ADS-B ground station enabling the surveillance of the air traffic in the Calama region. The radar station is installed on a site that had neither existing infrastructure, nor nearby commercial electrical power. The station will satisfy the operational surveillance requirements of both civil and military air traffic control and can detect both slow and fast-moving targets such as helicopters, commercial planes, and jets. The system also delivers windfarm mitigation filters.
The proposed system is therefore a complete, turnkey solution based on a power system using photovoltaic panels and back-up generators. In the proposed design, this system, made up of 330 photovoltaic panels installed on a surface measuring over 6330m² and delivering 191.5 kWc, will be the main power source of the surveillance system. Associated with advanced battery technology, it will allow the Chilean DGAC (Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil) to have a certain level of autonomy, thus largely reducing the use of power generators compared to standard use on this type of installation, whilst securing the running of the radar station against power cuts or limited availability of regular sources.
Emission scope(s)
on which the project has a significant impact
Scope 1
Direct emissions generated by the company's activity.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions associated with the company's electricity and heat consumption.
Scope 3
Emissions induced (upstream or downstream) by the company's activities, products and/or services in its value chain.
Emission Removal
Carbon sinks creation, (BECCS, CCU/S, …)
Avoided Emissions
Emissions avoided by the activities, products and/or services in charge of the project, or by the financing of emission reduction projects.
Avoided emissions : Cease to use energy from the main network, replace it by solar power produced on site
Quantification : 146 tCO2e/an
The station consumes 415 MWh/year. The emission factor of the life cycle analysis of solar panels is considered to be around 48 kgCO2e/MWh. The average yearly emission factor of the Chilean network is around 400 kgCO2e/MWh. The solar energy power supply therefore creates a saving of around 146 tCO2e/year.
Key points
Invested amount
Confidential data
Starting date of the project
January 2022
Project localisation
Calama in Chile
This solution can be adopted for air traffic control radar stations situated in regions with high levels of sunshine.
Project maturity level
Prototype laboratory test (TRL 7)
Real life testing (TRL 7-8)
Pre-commercial prototype (TRL 9)
Small-scale implementation
Medium to large scale implementation
Economic profitability of the project (ROI)
Short term (0-3 years)
Middle term (4-10 years)
Long term (> 10 years)
According to a study carried out by COMWAT (January 2021) based on data provided by Bloomberg, given the high level of sunlight in Chile, it is the country with the lowest costs for producing solar power. A fast ROI can probably be expected.
Illustrations of the project
By producing green energy that is directly used by the radar station, the project contributes to the following United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG):
- SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy
- SDG 13 Climate action
This type of structure can be installed on isolated sites that have a high levels of sunshine all year round.
Project carried out in collaboration with CLEMAR Engenharia, in charge of installing civil and electrical infrastructures.
Contact the company carrying the project
alice.pruvot@thalesgroup.com
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