Norwegian renewable energy operator Scatec Solar said that travel constraints and local regulations, resulting from measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic, have started to impact construction, commissioning and testing of some of its new solar plants.
The company said it is still too early to predict what effects this will have on completion dates of solar projects.
Meanwhile Scatec said its first quarter 2020 production from its operational PV plants is expected in line with earlier guidance.
The PV plant developer and operator is “closely monitoring” developments and is following the respective national authorities’ advice and recommendations regarding COVID-19.
The company said it is taking precautionary measures at all locations to limit the spread of the virus, keep people safe, and ensure continued stable operations of its power plants and has yet to experience impact of COVID-19 on operating assets or on delivery of power to customers, considering the risk to be low.
Scatec Solar chief executive Raymond Carlsen said: “As electricity production is a necessity in both normal and extraordinary times, we as a company, are shielded from some of the negative effects many other businesses are facing.
“However, we all have a joint responsibility to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, to protect the health of our employees, their families and society at large. At the same time, we are implementing all necessary measures to ensure continued delivery of much needed power to our customers.”
Power supply is generally defined as a critical infrastructure in most countries where Scatec Solar operates and, as such, production and maintenance continues as normal.
The company is selling all production from the global portfolio of power plants to state owned utilities, normally supported by government guarantees, under long term fixed price contracts, said Scatec, with long term contracted cash flows amounting to more than €5bn over the next 20 years.