We visited two hydroelectric plants today, both owned by entrepreneur lodge owners who needed a way to heat and light their ecolodges in remote national parks in Patagonia, Chile. Both hoteliers were eager to show me their handiwork.
Heidi took me out in the rain (wearing the requisite ´wellies´or tall rubber boots) to a shack by the side of the Austral Road. A twelve inch wide pipe sluiced water down from a mountain into the whirring confines of the shack. Upon entering we saw three four-foot long sets of fan belts, they looked like something from a car, and they turned methodically while the generator whirred loudly below the floor. This system, used by El Pangue eco lodge, supplies more than enough juice for all of the eight cabins, a dormitory and even heat for the pool and jacuzzi. Sadly, the utilities in Chile don´t buy the ample excess power back.
The second installation was smaller, just 2 kw, and backed up with a gas generator. But this is all they need at Fiorda Queulat ecolodge to keep their lights and power on. Owner Patricio pointed way up a mountainside, this is where he draws the water from. It all goes into a filter tank and then into his little Chinese made system.
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