A Voltalia, a company that produces renewable energy and provides services, opened last Wednesday (09) the plants Solar Serra do Mel 1 (SSM 1) and Solar Serra do Mel 2 (SSM 2), in the Serra Branca Cluster, located between the municipalities of Serra do Mel and Areia Branca, in Rio Grande do Norte.
As solar plants total 320 MW of installed capacity and are part of the the company's largest cluster in the world, which has a potential of 2,4 GW and has several plants in operation and hundreds of megawatts of projects under development.
In October, when photovoltaic projects reached 100% commercial operation, the Voltalia reached the milestone of more than 1 GW in operation in Rio Grande do Norte.
Fátima Bezerra, governor of Rio Grande do Norte, highlighted that the inauguration of another large project focused on the production of renewable energy in the state reflects the management's effort to dialogue and generate competitive conditions, necessary to attract investments.
“A few years ago the company started developing wind farms, then inaugurated the Operations Center, which is a global reference, and now it takes another important step, which is the inauguration of its largest solar plant in the world”, added Silvio Torquato, deputy secretary of Economic Development of the state of Rio Grande do Norte.
Marina Melo, president of Potigás, recalled the importance of the partnership between the state of Potiguar and the private sector. “These projects reinforce Rio Grande do Norte’s pioneering spirit in the energy transition.”
According to Bibiano de Azevedo, mayor of Serra do Mel, the Serra Branca Cluster plays a fundamental role in the region. “Voltalia’s projects contributed to strengthening the economy and local development, generating jobs and supporting social projects,” he added.
“It is with great honor that we inaugurate our largest solar plant in the world here. We have been investing in Rio Grande do Norte for years, as we believe in the state's potential and natural riches for the energy transition”, highlighted Robert Klein, CEO of Voltalia in Brazil.
More about the plants
SSM 1&2 solar plants have long-term private energy sales contracts signed with several companies, including clients such as Copel and Braskem. In March, Voltalia announced that STOA, an investment fund specialized in infrastructure projects, acquired 33% of these plants, becoming a minority shareholder in the project.
“This investment in the Serra do Mel Solar plant together with our partner Voltalia is STOA’s third in Brazil, since we began operating in the country at the end of 2018, focusing on the energy transition”, commented Marie-Laure Mazaud, CEO of STOA.
“The development confirms the attractiveness of STOA’s offering for energy producers like Voltalia, who are looking for long-term capital. We are happy that the construction took place according to the initial schedule and that I was able to participate in the official inauguration of the park today”, he highlighted.
The SSM 1&2 solar plants began construction last year and generated hundreds of direct and indirect jobs. “With the start of operation of the plants, we reached more than 1 GW of commercial operation in Rio Grande do Norte. Now, we continue with the construction of the Solar Serra do Mel 3, 4, 5 & 6 plants, which have an installed capacity of 260 MW”.
“The forecast is that they will come into operation in the first half of 2023, increasing the installed capacity of the hybrid complex by 80%”, concluded Klein.
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