PV research laboratory: Mexican solar panel manufacturer Solarever and the Renewable Energy Institute of National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) will build what they believe will be the largest solar laboratory in the country. To be located in Temixco, Morelos, the lab will be the center to train professionals in the space, as well as a patent center for new development, certification of solar panel, with an aim to contribute to the promotion of solar energy, reported local media. The laboratory is expected to become operational in H2/2021; it was originally meant to start operations in 2020 which couldn't happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Solarever started its new panel fab with 500 MW annual capacity in Mexico in late 2020 (see 500 MW Solar Panel Production Launched In Mexico).
27 solar PV assets in Chile for Enertis: Spain's Enertis is providing owner's engineer services for compatriot Matrix Renewables for the latter's distributed generation portfolio in Chile that adds up to 24 small distributed generation projects with a total capacity of 178 MW. This capacity includes projects in operation, under construction and under development. Enertis also acted as technical advisor to the Matrix Renewables for the acquisition of these projects. Additionally, Enertis also acted as owner's engineer for 3 solar PV projects of Matrix Renewables in Colombia for a combined capacity of 82 MW.
Solar power for Brazilian telecom company: Vivo, a telecom brand under Telefonica Brasil, has inaugurated its 1st solar power plant in Brazil's Para region in Maraba that's now grid connected. Around 2,190 MWh clean power generated by the project annually will be used by Vivo to serve 632 consumer units as stores, sites and transmission equipment. It plans to get more solar power plants with 2 in Para, 2 in Boa Vista (Roraima), and another in Rolim de Moura (Rondonia) expected to come online in 2021.
Solek raises $85.25 million for Chile projects: Solek Group from Czech Republic has raised $82.25 million senior facility from Natixis, for a portfolio of 110 MW solar power capacity in Chile through its Chilean subsidiaries. All the projects are part of Chile's special regime for distributed generation projects called PMGD devised by the government in 2005 to encourage green electricity generation in distributed space. Solek explains that each of the PMGD projects will have a capacity of up to 9 MW AC each and will be entitled to sell power at regulated stabilized prices. "With this transaction, our 8th PMGD term financing as Sole Lead Arranger in the last 2 years, we are solidifying our position as a leading financial institution and further strengthening our commitment to clients in the power sector and the infrastructure space more broadly," said Natixis' Executive Director for Infrastructure & Energy Finance, Ben Koehler. In October 2020, Natixis agreed to finance 20 Reden solar projects under PMGD regime (see Natixis To Finance 20 Solar PV Plants In Chile).