Enel Green Power has started construction of the 475MW Sao Gonçalo solar farm in Brazil, which will be the largest photovoltaic plant in South America when complete in 2020.
The $390m project, which is located in Sao Goncalo do Gurgueia in the north-east state of Piaui, will generate over 1200 gigawatt-hours a year once operational.
Enel Green Power head Antonio Cammisecra said: “The start of construction of this PV plant strengthens our leadership in the Brazilian renewable energy sector and confirms once again the importance we give to the development of solar energy in the country.
“Sao Goncalo will further contribute to the diversification and resilience of the country’s energy mix, supporting a virtuous, economic cycle through the long-term supply of sustainable energy.”
Enel was awarded 388MW of Sao Goncalo’s 475MW in Brazil’s A-4 public tender in December 2017, which is supported by 20-year power supply contracts with a pool of distribution companies operating in the country’s regulated market. The remaining 87MW will be sold in the free market.
Enel, through its subsidiaries EGPB and Enel Brasil, has a total installed renewables capacity in Brazil of more than 2GW, of which 842MW comes from wind power, 820MW solar and 1269MW from hydro.