Latin America PV Snippets: ACERA, Voltalia, MPC Energy

• ACERA recommends expanding the country's NCRE by an additional 8 GW in a new study
• Voltalia has started construction on its largest solar project in Brazil with 320 MW capacity
• Isotron will build 21.07 MW PV capacity in El Salvador as the EPC contractor for MPC Energy Solutions

ACERA study on Chilean NCRE capacity: Chilean renewable energies association Acera believes the country needs an additional 8 GW of non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) installed capacity between 2022-2025 in addition to that already committed, corresponding to around 10 GW to be put in service if Chile wants to have a sustainable electricity supply. In a report commissioned by ACERA, SPEC consultancy in collaboration with ISCI believes it would require around 1 GW of storage systems. The association said the study titled Reference Route to Achieve Zero Emissions in the Electric Power Generation Sector in Chile is its largest and most ambitious. It would require supportive and aggressive regulatory policies. If the system was not adapted in terms of installed capacity envisioned, it would translate into a greater use of diesel generation. Complete study is available on ACERA website.

320 MW enters construction in Brazil: France's Voltalia has started construction on its largest solar project in Brazil with 320 MW capacity. This includes 50 MW of additional capacity contracted, backed by new long-term power sales contracts. Initially the project had only 32 MW planned capacity, it has grown to 320 MW thanks to several power purchase agreements (PPA) secured. SSM1&2 project has 5 long-term power-sales contracts with an average maturity of 16 years, comprising a corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) with Braskem, and a utility PPA with Copel (see Voltalia Signs Corporate Solar PPA In Brazil For 270 MW). It aims to commission the project in Serra Branca cluster in the state of Rio Grande do Norte during H1/2022.

MPC Energy's 21 MW El Salvador PV project: The Netherlands based MPC Energy Solutions (MPCES) has contracted Isotron SA as the EPC contractor for its Santa Rosa and Villa Sol Solar PV Plants in El Salvador. Together, the 2 projects represent a combined capacity of 21.07 MW. Construction will commence in September 2021 once financial closure is achieved, and commissioning is scheduled for 2022. Once commissioned, the projects are to generate 43 GWh annually. MPCES expects the projects to generate at least $3.5 million in revenues on annual basis. It is the 1^st project to enter construction from MPCES' proprietary development pipeline. All projects are to supply solar energy generated to the local subsidiary of US based AES called CAESS. MPCES expects the projects to incur total investment worth $26 million out of which 75% is financed through a project financing facility.