Brazil's ANEEL Continues to Receive Requests for Authorization of Solar Power Projects

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Brazil's Federal Energy Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) received requests last October and November for the authorization of 49 new solar photovoltaic power projects that range between 5 and 30 megawatts (MW) each. These projects add to the country's expanding solar portfolio, which is now more than 2 gigawatts (GW) in generating capacity. They will be located in Bahía, Paraíba, Ceara, Minas Gerais y Rio Grande do Norte. These projects represent a combined investment of approximately $7.17 billion.

Investors are continuing to bet on this type of generation project, because the Brazilian energy matrix is seeing high costs for thermo power generation when levels drop in reservoirs. Although thermo power generation will continue to have a major role in the matrix composition, photovoltaic supporters say that diversifying the sources will reduce costs and ensure the reliability of the electric system.

Most of the projects are waiting for the government to perform a solar-specific power auction to boost the investor interest in the photovoltaic industry. Power auctions that are planned and regulated by the government guarantee power purchase agreements (PPAs) for at least 20 years.

The government has already announced its intention to foster such an event, taking as a model the success of the wind industry several years ago.

Among the private sector initiatives is a project of MPX Energia (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in the state of Ceara, which has 1-megawatt (MW) PV plant. The project will expand the facility to 50 MW, requiring a total investment of $283 million.

In addition, Sky Solar Iberica SLU (Madrid, Spain) and Manserv (Sao Paulo, Brazil) are planning to invest $5.3 billion in PV plants between 30 and 50 MW. Bioenergy (Sao Paulo, Brazil) expects to build 255 MW worth of photovoltaic facilities in the state of Bahia, which would involve investment toaling $2 billion, such us the 29-MW Terra do Sol I Project.

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