EDF Renewables withdraws from a Colombian solar plant; ANEEL says Brazil added over 6 GW wind and solar in 9M/2023; BayWa's new distribution center in Colombia; Voltalia divests stake in 420 MW solar plant in Brazil.
EDF quits 145 MW solar plant in Colombia: EDF Renewables Colombia has stepped out of a 145 MW solar power plant in Colombia citing delays in environmental permitting and licenses. The company won the 2 projects with combined 145 MW capacity in Girardot in 2021, but since then the delays have impacted the profitability of the projects, according to an EDF statement reported by local media (see Solar Sweeps Colombia's 3rd RE Auction). Additionally, the decision is influenced by the impact of rise in interest rates and volatility of the exchange rate. According to EDF, out of close to 2 GW of projects awarded under competitive auctions, no wind or solar projects are yet in operation in the country. The country's Environment Minister Susana Muhammad was quoted in local media reports as stating that the government is preparing a bill to speed up environmental licensing procedures for renewable energy projects.
ANEEL provides generation capacity update: The National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) in Brazil says during 9M/2023, Brazil added over 7.13 GW of new power generation capacity as 208 power plants. At least 6.36 GW or 89.2% of this was installed in the form of wind and solar power plants. All of 223.8 MW new capacity added in September 2023 came from 149.6 MW wind and 74.2 MW solar power projects. According to ANEEL, at the end of September 2023, Brazil's total installed power generation capacity exceeded 195.7 GW including 83.8% renewable energy capacity.
BayWa's new distribution center: Germany's BayWa r.e. has started a new solar distribution center in Colombia's Medellín. It covers an area of 500 sq. mt. in the Alcantara Industrial Complex. The company plans to use the facility to supply complete systems for residential and commercial installations, from modules and inverters to batteries and racking. BayWa calls Colombia a natural fit as the country's solar PV industry grows rapidly. Using the Colombian facility, BayWa will also cater to other markets in the Americas, starting with Peru and Ecuador. This is the company's 3rd Latin American market after Mexico and Brazil.
420 MW solar project changes hands in Brazil: France's Voltalia has offloaded a 420 MW solar power plant in Brazil's Minas Gerais to Newave Energia. The latter, a partnership between Gerdau and Newave FIP, owns the ready-to-build project that's part of the larger 1.8 GW Arinos cluster. Voltalia is developing the cluster and also providing construction and electrical infrastructure maintenance for the same, including the 420 MW plant.