Vale has announced that it has reached maximum capacity at the Sol do Cerrado solar energy complex in Brazil.
This is regarded as one of the largest solar parks in Latin America. The project reached the full installed capacity, which is located in Jaíba, in the state of Minas Gerais.
The project has an installed capacity of 766 MW (peak), and the generated energy is likely to reduce Vale’s emissions by 134,000 t/y CO2e. The project has 1.4 million solar panels.
According to the company, the project is set to supply 16% of all the energy consumed by Vale in its operations in Brazil. This comes in line with the company’s strategy of achieving zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
The company informed that it has already received authorization from the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) for the commercial operation of the last photovoltaic plant of the project, of a total of 17, a local report mentioned.
It has been informed that Sol do Cerrado had an investment of around R$3 billion ($590m) for the project.
To be noted, Vale aims to reach 100% of renewable energy consumption in Brazil by 2025, and globally by 2030.
Ludmila Nascimento, Vale’s Energy and Decarbonization Director, was quoted in a statement, “We have successfully connected the 17 plants of the solar park and should already reach peak production next summer. Sol do Cerrado is a complex that brings together local development and renewable energy, contributing to our goal of being leaders in sustainable mining.”
