Italy’s EGP wins solar plant supply contracts in Brazil

Italy-based renewable energy company Enel Green Power (EGP) has won 20-year energy supply contracts in Brazil for a total of 553 MW with its three new solar photovoltaic projects- Horizonte MP (103 MW), Lapa (158 MW) and Nova Olinda (292MW).

The latest contract win makes EGP a top player in the solar industry in Brazil in terms of the installed capacity and project portfolio.

This adds to the 11 MW of Fontes Solar I and II, which is Brazil’s largest photovoltaic complex in operation as well as 254MW to the Ituverava solar project construction contract awarded to the company in November 2014.

EGP will allocate $600m for the construction of the three new solar facilities, which are slated to be completed and become operational by 2017.

The three solar projects will be constructed in areas that benefit from high levels of solar radiation. These projects are expected to generate approximately 1.2 TWh of green energy, largely contributing to Brazil’s new power generation needs.

The 20-year supply contracts entail the sale of certain volumes of energy generated by the plants to the Brazilian Chamber of Commercialisation of Electric Energy (CCEE – Camara de Comercializaçao da Energia Eletrica).

Horizonte MP will be constructed in Tabocas do Brejo Velho in the State of Bahia, which is located in Brazil’s north-east. The plant is estimated to generate about 223 GWh of renewable energy annually while reducing carbon emissions of around 67,000t.

The plant will be located adjacent to EGP’s Ituverava solar project. This will help EGP to pool resources during construction and operational phases of the two projects, as they share the same infrastructure.

The Lapa project will be constructed in Bom Jesus da Lapa in the State of Bahia. On completion, the plant is expected to generate around 340 GWh each year, while reducing around 102,000t of CO2 emissions.

Olinda plant, which will be constructed at Ribeira do Piaui in Piaui Nova, is expected to generate around 604 GWh a year when it is fully functional. It is likely to avoid about 181,000t of CO2 emissions.

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Image: EGP to supply for three solar photovoltaic projects. Photo: courtesy of Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.