Astronomers relieved as industrial plant threatening Earth's darkest sky gets cancelled

image via Space.com

February 4, 2026, 5:00 PM

• •AES Andes cancelled the INNA project, a green hydrogen plant, near the ESO's Cerro Paranal site.
• •The project's location threatened the dark skies essential for astronomical research.
• •Light pollution from the plant could have increased by up to 35%, hindering advanced telescope capabilities.
• •The cancellation was a relief to astronomers and the astronomy community.
• •AES Andes shifted its focus to renewable energy projects.

The construction of the INNA green hydrogen plant near the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Cerro Paranal site has been cancelled, bringing relief to astronomers worldwide. The project, proposed by AES Andes, raised concerns due to potential light pollution that could have severely impacted astronomical research. ESO's calculations showed the plant could increase light pollution by up to 35%, hindering advanced research capabilities. The decision to cancel the project was welcomed by the astronomy community, who feared the detrimental effects on the world's most valuable astronomical locations. AES Andes cited a shift in focus towards renewable energy projects as the reason for the cancellation.

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