SANTIAGO, Chile – Astronomers are celebrating a major victory after a controversial $10 billion green energy project threatening the pristine skies of the Atacama Desert was officially scrapped. The Atacama, one of Earth’s driest regions, boasts some of the clearest night skies on the planet, making it a global hub for stargazing and cutting-edge astronomical research.
The proposed INNA facility, spanning 3,000 hectares, included a massive green hydrogen and ammonia production center, a port, transport links to the coast, and three solar power plants. For nearly a year, Chile’s environmental regulator scrutinized the plan amid fierce opposition from the scientific community. Experts warned that light pollution from the project would irreversibly damage observations at the nearby Paranal Observatory, home to the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) powerful telescopes.
“The cancellation of this project means there will be no negative impact on the Paranal Observatory,” ESO representative Itziar de Gregorio told The Guardian. Paranal hosts three major telescope complexes critical to ground-based astronomy. De Gregorio emphasized that while this is a win, protecting Chile’s astronomical sites requires ongoing vigilance and stricter safeguards.
Chile’s Environmental Evaluation Service confirmed last week that AES Andes, the U.S.-backed company behind INNA, withdrew the proposal following a key meeting. AES Andes, a subsidiary of AES Corporation known for energy projects across Latin America, issued a statement saying a detailed review led to the decision to halt the initiative.
Astronomers had long argued that the facility’s proximity to world-class telescopes posed unnecessary risks. Light pollution readings would skyrocket, hindering the ability to study distant stars and galaxies. The campaign gained momentum with an open letter from Nobel laureate Reinhard Genzel, who urged the Chilean government to intervene.
This triumph underscores the delicate balance between renewable energy ambitions and preserving natural wonders essential for science. The Atacama’s unparalleled clarity – clear skies for most of the year – draws tourists and researchers alike, fueling Chile’s growing astronomical tourism sector. With the project off the table, the desert’s starry legacy remains intact, at least for now.