Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela Venegas

• Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Vågerö, Oskar; Zeyringer, Marianne & Price, James (2026). Analyzing Social and Environmental Considerations in Past Onshore Wind Infrastructure Siting Decisions. International Conference on the European Energy Market. ISSN 2165-4077. doi: 10.1109/EEM68581.2026.11589750. Full text in Research Archive
• Mostue, Idunn Aamnes; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Baños, David; Storelvmo, Trude & Zeyringer, Marianne (2026). Widespread increase in frequency and duration of European wind droughts based on CMIP6 projections. iScience. 29(3). doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115075. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  To combat climate change, wind power represents an important energy source. However, the availability and reliability of wind resources are subject to weather conditions and the potential impact of climate change. This study utilizes five CMIP6 model projections under the high-emission SSP5-8.5 scenario to analyze future wind speeds and extreme wind events across Europe for the periods 2040–2059 and 2080–2099. We find a widespread increase in the annual frequency of weak wind events up to 10%–20% in some regions, most significantly over western Europe. While winter frequencies for weak winds may decrease in some regions, the duration of these events is projected to rise in northern and eastern Europe. Conversely, and with less model agreement, strong wind events could increase by up to 70% in the southern North Sea and offshore northern Spain. These results underscore the critical need for climate adaptive and climate-resilient energy systems planning.

• Mroczkowski, Tony; Gallardo, Patricio A.; Timpe, Martin; Kiselev, Aleksej; Groh, Manuel & Kaercher, Hans [Show all 26 contributors for this article] (2025). The conceptual design of the 50-meter Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST). Astronomy and Astrophysics (A & A). ISSN 0004-6361. 694. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202449786. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The (sub)millimeter sky contains a vast wealth of information that is both complementary and inaccessible to other wavelengths. Over half the light we receive is observable at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, yet we have mapped only a small portion of the sky at sufficient spatial resolution and sensitivity to detect and resolve distant galaxies or star-forming cores within their large- scale environments. For decades, the astronomical community has highlighted the need for a large, high-throughput (sub)millimeter (λ ~ 0.35–10 mm) single dish. The Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST), with its 50-m aperture and 2° maximal field of view, aims to be such a facility. We present here the preliminary design concept for AtLAST, developed through an EU Horizon 2020-funded design study. Our design approach begins with a long lineage of (sub)millimeter telescopes, relies on calculations and simulations to realize the optics, and uses finite element analysis to optimize the conceptual designs for the mechanical structure and subsystems. The demanding technical requirements for AtLAST, set by transformative science goals, have motivated the design effort to combine novel concepts with lessons learned from previous efforts. The result is an innovative rocking chair design with six instrument bays, two of which are mounted on Nasmyth platforms, inside a large receiver cabin. Ultimately, AtLAST aims to achieve a surface accuracy of a ≤20 µm root mean square half wavefront error, corresponding to the goal of a Ruze efficiency of >50% at 950 GHz. We conclude that a closed-loop metrology of the active primary surface will be required to achieve our surface accuracy goal. In the next phase of the project, we shall prototype and test such a metrology on existing platforms, with the goal of delivering a mature, construction-ready design by the end of this decade.

• Viole, Isabelle; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Sartori, Sabrina & Zeyringer, Marianne (2024). Integrated life cycle assessment in off-grid energy system design—Uncovering low hanging fruit for climate mitigation. Applied Energy. ISSN 0306-2619. 367. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123334. Full text in Research Archive
• Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Lode, Maria Luisa; Viole, Isabelle; Felice, Alex; Alonso, Ander Martinez & Camargo, Luis Ramirez [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). A renewable and socially accepted energy system for astronomical telescopes. Nature Sustainability. doi: 10.1038/s41893-024-01442-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Remote astronomical telescopes without access to the national electricity grid are usually designed to rely on fossil fuels without considering the social and energy needs of the surrounding communities. Concurrently, climate change concerns and fuel price vulnerability are driving the transition to renewable energy sources. Here we propose a socially accepted renewable energy system for a future telescope in the Atacama Desert, combining an energy system model with a participatory multi-criteria analysis. Our findings highlight the fact that various stakeholders, including local residents, the municipality, the existing local utility and observatories, prioritize emissions reduction, security of supply and reduced electricity costs. The results reveal that a system supplying renewable energy to the telescope could also cover 66% of a nearby community’s energy needs without additional capacity. Stakeholder inputs show that this is the most attractive solution by developing an energy system in which all the actors benefit. Replicating similar energy systems at nearby telescopes could reduce fossil fuel-based energy generation by 30 GWh annually, cutting emissions by 18–24 ktCO2e while contributing to energy justice. The proposed approach aims to promote social acceptance of renewable energy systems by involving stakeholders in the decision-making process, integrating benefit sharing among them and contributing to the region’s emissions reduction efforts.

• Viole, Isabelle; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Sartori, Sabrina & Zeyringer, Marianne (2023). Integrated Life Cycle Assessment in Off-Grid Energy System Design - Uncovering Low Hanging Fruit for Climate Mitigation. Social Science Research Network (SSRN). doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4656682. Full text in Research Archive
• Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Lode, Maria Luisa; Viole, Isabelle; Felice, Alex; Alonso, Ander Martinez & Camargo, Luis Ramirez [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Designing renewable and socially accepted energy systems for astronomical telescopes: A move towards energy justice. Research Square. ISSN 2693-5015. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3181969/v1. Full text in Research Archive
• Viole, Isabelle; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Zeyringer, Marianne & Sartori, Sabrina (2023). A renewable power system for an off-grid sustainable telescope fueled by solar power, batteries and green hydrogen. Energy. ISSN 0360-5442. 282. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.128570. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  A large portion of astronomy’s carbon footprint stems from fossil fuels supplying the power demand of astronomical observatories. Here, we explore various isolated low-carbon power system setups for the newly planned Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope, and compare them to a business-as-usual diesel power generated system. Technologies included in the designed systems are photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, diesel generators, batteries, and hydrogen storage. We adapt the electricity system optimization model highRES to this case study and feed it with the telescope’s projected energy demand, cost assumptions for the year 2030 and site-specific capacity factors. Our results show that the lowest-cost system with LCOEs of $116/MWh majorly uses photovoltaics paired with batteries and fuel cells running on imported and on-site produced green hydrogen. Some diesel generators run for backup. This solution would reduce the telescope’s power-side carbon footprint by 95% compared to the business-as-usual case.

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• Fordham, David; Hvidsten, Tobias Verheugen; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela & Zeyringer, Marianne (2026).  The Impact of Shortage Risk Tolerance on a Future European Net-Zero Electricity System – A Multi-Objective Optimisation Approach. doi: 10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20904. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Energy system models are crucial tools for planning the transition to low-carbon power systems, particularly in the context of increasing renewable energy sources (RES) integration. However, the inherent variability and uncertainty of RES generation pose challenges for ensuring system reliability. As of today, capacity expansion models often enforce strict reliability constraints, leading to conservative investment decisions that may not reflect real-world risk tolerances, ultimately leading to overdimensioned systems. Reframing planning around acceptable risk can therefore have the potential to shift investment decisions from expensive and rarely used capacity to more valuable assets, such as targeted storage or transmission. Here, we implement an allowance for shortage tolerance in an electricity system model at NUTS2 resolution, using a multi-objective optimisation approach that minimises both total system cost and energy shortage risk. We explore the trade-offs between cost and reliability by analysing solutions on the Pareto front, and how they could influence the design of a future European power system with high RES penetration. Our findings expose which regions are most vulnerable to shortages, and allow for policy makers to make informed decisions on how to balance decarbonization, affordability, and local robustness. 

• Velasco-Herrejón, Paola; Viole, Isabelle; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Sartori, Sabrina & Zeyringer, Marianne (2025). Astronomy and energy justice in the Atacama Desert. In Mejía-Montero, Adolfo (Eds.), Energy Justice in Latin America. Routledge. ISSN 9781003492573. p. 181–197. Full text in Research Archive
• Viole, Isabelle; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Sartori, Sabrina & Zeyringer, Marianne (2023). Techno-environmental multi-objective optimization of energy systems for an off-grid telescope. Full text in Research Archive
• Viole, Isabelle; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Zeyringer, Marianne & Sartori, Sabrina (2023). Techno-Environmental Modelling of Energy Storage Systems for a Remote Telescope. Full text in Research Archive
• Viole, Isabelle; Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela; Shen, Li; Camargo, Luis Ramirez & Sartori, Sabrina (2023). How to power an off-grid telescope? Comparative life cycle analysis of renewable-based energy systems. Full text in Research Archive
• Viole, Isabelle & Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela (2022). Designing a hybrid power system for a remote telescope in the Atacama desert. Full text in Research Archive
• Sartori, Sabrina; Viole, Isabelle & Venegas, Guillermo Andrés Valenzuela (2022). Grønn energi til å se ut i verdensrommet. Full text in Research Archive

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