After years of depending on hydropower and fossil fuels, non-hydro renewables such as solar and wind could pave the way for Peru’s energy transition. The country is witnessing a significant shift towards renewable energy driven by global climate commitments, declining technology costs, and the need for energy security. Investment trends are moving beyond large-scale hydropower to focus on solar, wind, and green hydrogen. This is despite the transition challenges related to regulatory frameworks, social conflicts, and grid modernization. The most active area for investment in Peru is in solar and wind power. Peru uses public auctions to attract investments for over 1.3 GW of solar and wind projects at record-low prices for the region at the time. Notable projects in the country include the Rubi solar plant (180 MW) and the Tres Hermanas wind farm (97 MW). Corona rings are enabling components for the high-voltage infrastructure supporting energy transition.
Peru is also creating investments in green hydrogen, grid modernization, energy storage, transmission infrastructure upgrades, and distributed generation and rooftop solar. The success for investors will depend on deep understanding of local social dynamics, strategic partnerships, and navigating the regulatory environment. Use of corona rings ensures the reliability, efficiency, and safety of the transmission lines and substations carrying clean energy from new solar and wind farms. The electrical potential in high-voltage systems can get so high, ionizing the air surrounding a sharp conductive component. This is corona discharge that generates ozone gas that corrodes and degrades insulation, hardware, and conductors. The corona ring distributes the electrical field gradient around the component. It serves in transmission lines sending electricity from renewable projects. Using corona rings helps Peru build the high-voltage grid necessary to realize its clean energy future.
Impacts of corona rings on Peru’s energy transition
Corona rings, also known as grading rings, are toroidal conductors mounted at high-voltage stress points. They typically mount on the line end of insulator strings, at substation bushings, terminations, and equipment connectors. They reshape the electric field to prevent it from becoming concentrated enough at any single point to ionize the air and create corona discharge. Corona rings serve in transmission lines, renewable collector systems, substations, HVDC, or FACTS. Here are the core functions of corona rings in Peru’s energy transition infrastructure.
- Reduce electric-field hotspots—the rings lower peak E-field on suspension hardware, post insulators, wall bushings, and cable terminations. It is crucial on 220/500 kV interties crossing the Andes, where lower air density promotes corona.
- Suppress corona discharge and power loss—corona converts energy into heat, light, ozone, and sound. Rings keep operating gradients below corona inception, cutting no-load losses. This is crucial for long spans feeding remote mines and hybrid renewables in Peru.
- Reduce audible noise—rings limit cracking and hissing in fog, drizzle, and salt spray along the wind farms and 500 kV yards.
- Protect insulators and hardware from aging—persistent corona erodes polymer sheds and pits metal. Corona rings help extend service life, especially where access is hard, such as high-altitude structures above 3,500 m.
- Enhance insulation coordination and overvoltage behavior—the rings help equipment withstand switching surges and lightning. They complement surge arresters on solar and wind substations.
Infrastructure supporting energy transition in Peru with increased investments
Increasing investments in Peru’s energy transition supports renewable project integration, supply mining, provides electricity, and enhances global trade capacity. The infrastructure used includes:
- Power transmission—the IFC and Acciona are leading the upgrades to the grid through transmission projects. These lines will bolster capacity to integrate solar and wind energy to improve grid stability and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Utility-scale renewables—this includes the use of solar power to power mining operations in Peru. It includes the new San Martín solar park and Babilonia solar.
- Distributed and rural-scale solar—this includes civil society-driven initiatives electrifying remote areas and enabling services.
- Grid diversification—Peru’s electrical grid remains reliant on hydro and natural gas thermal plants. The IFC underscores the need for battery storage systems and hybrid mini-grids to help integrate renewables and stabilize the grid.
- Export-scale infrastructure—the Chancay Megaport is a strategic infrastructure addition on Peru’s coast expected to bolster export capacity and regional connectivity. It is crucial in supporting the broader economic shift tied to energy transition.