Winter wildfires smother solar in South America
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that aerosols from Brazilian wildfires significantly reduced solar irradiance across parts of South America in July, although a persistent high-pressure system over the South Pacific boosted irradiance in Chile and Argentina.
Brazil’s electricity access program needs 1.5 million solar modules.
New research shows that achieving universal electricity access in the Amazon region will require up to 15 million PV modules and more than $7.4 billion in investments.
Guyana opens tender for solar-plus-storage projects
Guyana Power and Light, a publicly owned utility, has kicked off a tender to select an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for three solar plants with battery energy storage. The deadline for applications is Sept. 26.
The Hydrogen Stream: Brazil signs hydrogen support scheme
As Brazil starts its low-carbon hydrogen program, industry consolidation continues with two M&A operations in Italy and Texas.
Chilean government proposes solar FIT cut for distributed generation
A coalition of three renewables associations in Chile have released a joint statement expressing “deep concern and opposition” to the Chilean government’s proposals to reduce income for distributed generation.
Binational tender launched for 1 MW floating PV plant in Brazil, Paraguay
The plant will be located in the reservoir of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant. The tender is open until September 5, and the designated time period for the installation of the floating solar plant is about four months.
Uruguay attracts 11 bidders vying to build 25 MW PV plant in Punta del Tigre
The Uruguayan firms include Berkes, Ebital, Impacto Construcciones, Ingener, MGI SA, Teyma Uruguay and Ventus Ingenieria; together with Cttech, Prodiel and the Chinese companies DTW and Power Construction Corporation of China.
Chile boasts 3,962 MW of PV under construction
There are currently more than 3.9 GW of photovoltaic power under construction in the country. Nearly 70% of Chile’s electricity generation in June was renewable, and solar energy accounted for 15% of monthly generation.
Livoltek commissions inverter factory in Brazil
The company opened an inverter factory in the Manaus Free Trade Zone with a capacity of 1.8 GW, or 300,000 units per year. In the second phase, it plans to bring in the production of hybrid inverters and lithium batteries as well as chargers for electric vehicles and motors for electric boats. The company will have distribution centers in Curitiba and Fortaleza to ensure rapid delivery of equipment to the domestic market, with a minimum warranty of 10 years.
Colombia: 922.8 MW of PV projects under construction
According to the country’s Mining and Energy Planning Unit, of all the projects currently operating in Colombia that it is aware of, 10,672 MW are photovoltaic, followed by 8,452 MW of wind, 1,973.9 MW hydraulic, 672 MW thermal and 42.7 MW biomass.
