PV projects totaling 26 GW to compete in Brazil’s A-4 auction
Energy agency the EPE has admitted 1,581 projects with a total capacity of more than 54 GW to the procurement exercise’s initial phase.
Brazil’s PV capacity exceeds 2.5 GW
With around 2,056 MW of operational installed capacity from large-scale PV and more than 500 MW of installed distributed-generation capacity, Brazil has now surpassed Chile to become Latin America’s second-largest solar market after Mexico. According to new statistics released by Brazilian industry association ABSOLAR, utility-scale solar currently accounts for around 1.2% of the country’s total generating capacity.
Brazilian government confirms solar will compete in June A-4 auction
In a document published in Brazil’s official journal, the Ministry of Energy and Mines said the upcoming procurement exercise will be open to solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric power projects.
Brazil to hold next A-4 auction on June 27, solar likely to be included
The Ministry of Energy and Mines is planning nine energy auctions up to 2021. The plan includes two “new energy” procurements per year – A-4 and A-6 auctions – and one per year for existing power plants. It is unclear whether solar will be eligible and, if so, which auctions it would compete in, but Brazilian solar association ABSOLAR is confident PV will admitted to both.
Brazil preps auction for non-interconnected state of Roraima
The procurement is planned for May 16 and will award 15-year PPAs to projects based on conventional and renewable energy generation. Solar could help remove the state’s reliance on power generated by a company based in crisis-torn Venezuela.
Bifacial 114 MW project in Brazil secures development bank financing
The plant, under development by Canadian Solar, has secured $80 million from Banco do Nordeste. The facility is scheduled to come online in mid-2020.
Atlas switches on 67.1 MW solar plant in eastern Brazil
The São Pedro solar complex is in Bom Jesus da Lapa, Bahia state. The plant, awarded a 20-year PPA in Brazil’s 2015 renewable energy auction, was installed with Jinko and Canadian Solar modules. The latter makes modules in São Paulo.
Giant solar complex secures approval in northeast of Brazil
The 540 MW project, in Brasileira, will feature 18 units with a capacity of 30 MW each. The developer is Brazil-based Gruppo Interalli and work on the giant plant is expected to start in the second quarter of the year.
Brazilian energy regulator recommends keeping incentives for distributed solar
Although power companies have urged the new administration of Jair Bolsonaro to reduce incentives for net metered solar distributed generation, ANEEL has proposed maintaining them until PV reaches a certain proportion of the electricity sector.
Enel sells Brazilian PV plants totaling 450 MW to China’s CGNEI
Two facilities were sold along with a 90 MW wind power plant generating the vendor around €700 million. Both solar projects were awarded 20-year PPAs in the most successful auction held by the Brazilian government, in August 2015.
