Petrobras investing in solar PV under decarbonization plans; Statkraft alters Chilean project capacity after consultation with natives; Argentina installed 47 MW RE in Q1 '24; Scatec and Statkraft partner for Brazilian solar plant; Stellantis investing $100M in 360 Energy Solar.
Petrobras seeking solar power: Brazilian state-owned oil and gas company Petrobras will power its 3 local refineries with solar energy. It is investing in 3 solar power plants with 48 MW combined capacity to supply power to its refineries, namely Gabriel Passos (Regap) in Minas Gerais; Abreu e Lima (Rnest) in Pernambuco; and Paulínia (Replan) in São Paulo. All 3 PV projects are scheduled to come online by 2025. It aims for solar energy from these projects to reduce gas consumption and GHG emissions. Petrobras says these projects will be financed from the $1 billion Petrobras Decarbonization Fund to be invested within 2024 to 2028. The Brazilian giant aims to lower its total operational emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2015 and neutralize its operational GHG emissions by 2050.
185 MW solar plant in Chile: Norway's Statkraft says its Chilean subsidiary Statkraft Chile has secured the environmental approval for its 185 MW solar power plant in the country. The Antofagasta Environmental Assessment Commission unanimously approved the Parina Solar PV Park Project of the company in Loa province. The project will be equipped with 251,560 bifacial solar modules of 670 W power output each. It will be accompanied by a battery storage system having 384 container modules and a backup capacity of 4 hours. Statkraft says its consultations with the local indigenous population made it bring down the project's total installed capacity from 248 MW to 185 MW to avoid affecting a livestock footprint. It is recognized as part of the heritage of local communities. "To this end, the configuration of the park was rethought, optimizing and reducing the number of photovoltaic modules along with the internal operation roads, relocating transmission line towers and prioritizing the use of existing roads," adds Statkraft.
3 new solar plants online in Argentina: The Energy Secretariat of Argentina says the country commissioned 47 MW of new renewable energy capacity during Q1/2024. This comprises a 1 MW biogas thermal plant, and 3 solar PV projects with 20 MW, 22 MW and 4 MW capacity. This is a decline from the 80.74 MW the country added during Q1/2023, which included over 78 MW of solar PV and 610 kW biogas capacity.
Scatec's Brazilian solar PPA: Norway's Scatec has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Statkraft Energia do Brasil Ltda for a 142 MW solar power plant in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Scatec says the BRL-denominated PPA covers close to 75% of the expected power produced. The remaining power generated is to be sold under short, medium, and long-term PPA contracts once the facility is online at the end of 2025. The Norwegian company estimates the total capital expenditure for the plant at $94 million, with Scatec covering around 63% of the amount with equity. Scatec says this is the company's 3rd solar project in Brazil. Its other 2 solar plants—the 531 MW Mendubim Solar Project in Rio Grande do Norte and the 162 MW Apodi Solar Plant in Ceara—are already operational.
Stellantis acquiring stake in solar company: The Netherlands-headquartered multinational automotive manufacturer Stellantis has invested $100 million to acquire a stake in an Argentinian solar company. Referring to a company statement, Reuters says 360 Energy Solar is one of Argentina's leading solar power producers. Stellantis aims to acquire a 49.5% stake in the company as it targets to develop additional solar power plants and also install large-scale solar storage systems and invest in hydrogen. Stellantis is also planning to boost renewable energy at its Ferreyra and El Palomar plants in Argentina, both of which are powered by a solar plant of 360 Energy Solar.