Latin America PV Snippets: EGE, Participant, EnfraGen

120 MW solar park online in Dominican Republic: Empresa Generadora de Electricidad Haina (EGE Haina) has commissioned Girasol Solar Park with 120 MW capacity in the Dominican Republic. Project is expected to generate 240,000 MWh annually, helping avoid the import of 400,000 barrels of oil. It was built by the electricity generator for $100 million in 14 months. With this project online, EGE Haina now has 300 MW of wind and solar power capacity in its portfolio with natural gas and renewables accounting for 65% of its total mix which once comprised 100% thermal power plants. China’s Trina Solar had earlier said it will supply 268,200 bifacial glass modules with 430W to 450W output to the project (see China PV News Snippets: Zhonghuan, Trina, Shangji CNC). It was realized by Spanish EPC company Elecnor as the country’s ‘largest’ solar power station (see Spanish EPC Company For 120 MW PV In Dominican Republic).

14.7 MW solar array in Honduras: California, US based renewable energy developer Participant Energy has started construction on a 14.7 MW solar array in Honduras calling it the largest privately-owned solar system in the Latin American nation. It is building the facility for Green Valley Industrial Park in San Pedro Sula, that houses several multinational companies and will procure power from the solar project to save 20% on its energy costs from day 1. Green Valley Industrial Park’s owner Grupo Karim’s Director General Gustavo Raudales said clean renewable energy will help the nation’s rising industrial and commercial development while taking care of the region’s increasing environmental concerns.

EnfraGen raises $200 million for Chile projects: Latin American renewable energy company EnfraGen, LLC has raised $200 million non-recourse financing for its greenfield solar PV portfolio worth 237 MW DC/175 MW AC in Chile. It has also got an option of an additional $40 million upsizing via an accordian feature. Owned by Glenfarne Group, LLC and Partners Group, EnfraGen will use the proceeds to construct, acquire, operate and maintain this portfolio. “Chile provides consistent and reliable regulation that allows for investment in renewable energy, and we are happy to grow our platform in Chile as it continues its energy transition to renewable power,” said Head of Solar for Fontus Renewables Brendan Wolters. Fontus Renewables is the renewables division of EnfraGen. Proceeds were raised from Banco de Crédito e Inversiones (BCI), BNP Paribas, DNB Bank ASA and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) among others.