Speaker
Description
The Atacama Desert in the north of Chile is an ideal location for astronomical facilities, hosting multiple observatories, some of which rely on fossil fuels for power because they are not connected to the national grid. However, climate change concerns and risks related to fossil fuel price fluctuations have driven consideration of renewable energy sources to power these infrastructures. Particularly, the Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST) is the first astronomical project in the Chajnantor plateau to consider renewable energy sources from the design phase, while also exploring options to involve local communities in this solution. Considering this, we explore various scenarios for the energy system of this telescope, assessing and integrating techno-economic considerations along with Life Cycle Assessment. We show that a renewable energy system can power the telescope while minimizing overall system costs and environmental impacts. Furthermore, by involving the nearby communities through a participatory multi-criteria tool, the renewable energy solutions for the telescope can also help meet part of the community’s electricity demand, promoting a socially accepted system. These results highlight the opportunities for astronomical infrastructure to transition to renewable energy sources, thereby contributing to local sustainability.