Voltalia, international renewable energy player, announces today the beginning of the construction of its first solar PV plant in Brazil, a 4 MW power plant located in Oiapoque, in the State of Amapa.

An exemplary project

Just over a year after the commissioning of the Oiapoque plant’s first unit in Brazil1, Voltalia announces today the launch of the construction works of its very first solar PV plant in Brazil, with a capacity of 4 MW.

Voltalia won the Oiapoque tender in 20142,standing out as the only competitor offering a hydro/thermal mixed project, producing a cleaner and cheaper electricity than the one generated by the diesel generators so far used by the city.

The commissioning of the new solar plant is expected in Q3 2017. This project is the first on which Voltalia’s teams have closely worked with Martifer Solar’s3, thus benefitting from the latters’ experience in solar plant design and from attractive conditions to purchase equipment.

A showcase of Voltalia’s industrial expertise

The construction of this first solar PV plant exemplifies Voltalia’s industrial know-how and agility. This solar PV power plant in remote area will benefit from existing infrastructures: the transmission line owned by Voltalia and the substation belonging to the local utility. An additional transmission line will also be built and owned by Voltalia for this purpose.

The terms and conditions of the 15-year electricity sales contract remaining unchanged4, this new solar capacity will enable Voltalia to reduce its operational expenses by significantly reducing the use of the thermal generators.

Once the hydropower plant is commissioned, the Oiapoque site will include a 12 MW thermal unit, a 4 MW solar plant and the 7.5 MW hydro unit. It will thus stand out by the association of two renewable energy sources associated to a thermal plant to produce a 90% renewable electricity.