Brazil’s Copel Contracts 595 MW Solar & Wind

• Copel Mercado Livre has announced contracting 595 MW of renewable energy capacity in a public auction
• The incentivized solar and wind energy auction saw Copel Mercado Livre selecting 411 MW of solar and 184 MW of wind energy
• Power contracted will be supplied to Copel for 13 years from January 2023 till 2035

A subsidiary of Brazilian power utility Companhia Paranaense de Energia (Copel) has contracted 595 MW of solar and wind power capacity in a public auction conducted for the purchase of incentivized solar and wind energy. Copel Mercado Livre said the contracted capacity comes from 411 MW of solar energy and 184 MW of wind power.

Average MWs contracted add up to 162 MW for 13 years. This new capacity will be built to provide clean energy to Copel starting from January 2023 and will be provided till 2035, Copel Mercado Livre said.

"In 2020, only Copel and Jirau (Sustainable Energy in Brazil – ESBR) held an auction to purchase energy from new solar and wind projects. This is a sign of the maturity of the free market and of our strength and preparation for this moment," said Director General of Copel Mercado Livre.

The public call for this capacity was launched at the end of 2019 with the first stage held in February 2020. The contracted 595 MW constitutes the second stage. The final stage is scheduled towards the end of 2020 when contracts will be signed with the winners. Earlier this month, Copel said 1.97 GW of solar and wind energy was registered for the August 14, 2020 auction (see Over 1.9 GW Wind & Solar For Aug 14 Brazil Tender).