117 MW solar plant online in Argentina: Guanizuil IIA Solar Power Plant with 117 MW capacity has been energized in Argentina's San Juan province by Norway's Scatec and Equinor. Both the companies are 50:50 owners of the project that will also be operated by the duo. It is part of the country's Renewable Energy Tender program called RenovAR and holds a 20-year power purchase agreement with the country's wholesale power market administrator CAMMESA. The facility had been under construction since December 2018 (see 65 MW Solar Project Online In Malaysia). Scatec said the facility is expected to generate 305 GWh annually, enough to suffice electricity requirements of 80,000 homes. The Norwegian company revealed it currently has over 1.4 GW project capacity under development in Latin America.
PPA for 239 MW project in Brazil: Atlas Renewable Energy has secured a long term PPA for its 239 MW DC solar power plant in Brazil's Pirapora in Minas Gerais state with chemicals producer Unipar. Under the agreement, Unipar will source power from Lar do Sol-Casablanca II Solar Power Plant to power 2 of the company's manufacturing facilities in Brazil. "The total amount of generated energy destined to Unipar will be enough to produce Chlorine for the water treatment to over 60 million people," said Unipar CEO Mauricio Russomanno.
Atlas Renewable Energy will develop build and operate the project using bifacial solar modules for the facility that will be spread in 700 hectares of land. According to Atlas Renewable Energy, this project adds to its Brazilian footprint with a total of 6 large scale plants amounting to over 1 GW capacity.
Joint venture for 190 MW solar in Brazil: Shell Brasil has entered a cooperation agreement for the development of its 1st solar energy project in the country. The 190 MW DC solar power plant in the Brazilian municipality of Brasilândia de Minas in Minas Gerais region will be built by a joint venture company formed with local steel producer Gerdau. Part of the power generated by Aquarii Solar Park will power Gerdau's steel production units and some part will be traded on the free market through Shell's energy trading company from 2024. While for Shell Brasil, the project is an extension of its decarbonization strategy as it goes about developing more solar parks in the states of Minas Gerais and Paraiba, for Gerdau this investment is an attempt at ensuring energy security for its business and marks its entry into the renewable energy generation segment that it manages through Gerdau Next, the partners explained.
Colombia's renewable energy auction: Colombia is moving forward on its plans to hold the country's 3rd Long Term Contracting of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (FNCER) auction after the auctioneer XM and financier Unconventional Energy and Energy Efficency Management Fund (FENOGE) under the Ministry of Energy, signed a contract to finance the technical, legal and technological deployment required to implement the process. The duo have also published preliminary specifications for the auction of long term contracts for consultation from stakeholders. Last date to submit comments is July 23, 2021. Detailed documents are available on XM's website. Colombia launched the auction in June 2021 and had said winners will be declared before October 31, 2021 (see Colombia Launches 3rd Renewable Energy Auction). Now XM said the allocation is scheduled for October 26, 2021.