Elera Renováveis launches the third phase of the Janaúba Solar Plant
Elera Renováveis has launched the third phase of the Janaúba solar plant. The installation, which started operating this week, consists of 27 solar parks spread over 3,800 hectares.
With the commercial operation of Irapuru, the third phase of the project, the Janaúba solar plant, located in northern Minas Gerais, completes its expansion. With the addition of 422 MWp, the Complex remains the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and the Americas, with an installed capacity of 1,617 MWp, enough to supply the residential electricity consumption of 1.2 million people. Its clean and renewable generation is capable of avoiding the annual emission of approximately 850,000 tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere.
The total investment in the Janaúba Solar Plant amounts to 5 billion reais (823.5 million dollars). Currently, it has 2.9 million solar modules distributed in 27 photovoltaic plants, occupying an area of over 3,800 hectares, equivalent to 5,200 soccer fields.
The construction of the complex generated 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Since July 2023, when the Janaúba plant was launched, Elera Renováveis has invested in the socioeconomic development of the region. The company has carried out training activities with the local community, promoting women’s inclusion in training programs.
Thanks to this initiative, the pre-assembly team of the third phase of the project was exclusively composed of women. Currently, a family farming project is being developed focusing on the creation of productive backyards to enhance food security and generate new sources of income for the families involved.
“The trajectory of the Janaúba Solar Plant is a milestone for the company and an important contribution to local development and the increase of renewables’ share in the Brazilian electric matrix. With the completion of its expansion, we strengthen our leadership in the energy transition of various sectors of the economy and our commitment to the communities, customers, business partners, and other stakeholders we interact with,” stated André Flores, CEO of Elera Renováveis.
All the energy generated by the third phase of the Janaúba Solar Plant, as well as the previous phases, has been marketed in the ACL (Free Contracting Environment) through contracts of over 15 years with different clients, in the self-production modality.
The energization process of the solar parks in the expansion phase of the Janaúba Solar Plant started in late 2024, connecting the photovoltaic system to the National Interconnected System (SIN), and commercial operation began on January 1st.
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