Atlas signs Brazilian solar PPA

Atlas Renewable Energy and Votorantim Cimentos have signed a Brazilian power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply and purchase, respectively, 100MW of solar.

The generation will come from Atlas' Luiz Carlos Solar Project, located in the municipality of Paracatu, Minas Gerais, which will have an installed capacity of 787MW, of which almost two-thirds (470MW) will be destined for Votorantim Cimentos.

The solar energy provided through this 15-year agreement will support the energy needs of Votorantim Cimentos' factories and distribution centres located in the south, south-east, and midwest regions of Brazil.

With the new partnership, the project will be responsible for around a third of Votorantim Cimentos' energy consumption in the country.

Through the self-production PPA, the company is advancing its decarbonisation strategy, which includes renewable energy as one of its strategic pillars.

"This partnership with Votorantim Cimentos confirms Atlas' repeated ability to partner with blue chip companies of Latin America's industrial sector to help them make the energy transition," said Atlas Renewable Energy chief executive Carlos Barrera.

"It also contributes to building Brazil's sustainable production supply chain powered by clean energy. At the same time, we are proud that our project, Luiz Carlos, will promote Atlas' best-in-class ESG programmes targeting true sustainable development."

Minas Gerais is already home to other Atlas solar schemes, which will allow the company to continue investing in the development of the region, in environmental and social terms, with an emphasis on hiring local labour.