Solar Energy For Brazilian Factories

Atlas Renewable Energy's Lar Do Sol-Casablanca II Project Will Have An Installed Capacity Of 239 MW And Will Provide Solar Energy To Unipar's Factories In Brazil

Solar Panels In The Desert (Image Courtesy Of Atlas Renewable Energy)

Atlas Renewable Energy, an international renewable energy company, along with Unipar, a provider of chlorine, chlorides, and PVC in South America, announced the signing of a large-scale solar energy power purchase agreement (PPA) in Brazil. The clean solar energy supply will be generated through Atlas Renewable Energy’s Lar do Sol – Casablanca II (Casablanca II) photovoltaic (PV) plant located in Pirapora, State of Minas Gerais.

Casablanca II, which will occupy about 1730 acres (700 ha), will have an installed capacity of 239 MW with 460,000 solar panels. The plant will host bi-facial module technology, which uses the reflection of the sun’s rays from their front and back sides, increasing the efficiency of the photoelectric conversion and enhancing the overall production of the plant. The project is expected to generate enough energy to supply two of Unipar’s Brazilian factories.

Casablanca II’s yearly energy generation will be the equivalent of supplying energy to about 261,662 households, according to the average consumption of a Brazilian family. Moreover, the plant will approximately avoid 40,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year. This calculation is based on the GHG (greenhouse gas) Protocol, methodology developed by the World Resources Institute which follows the methods used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The amount of prevented CO2 emissions will be equivalent to removing 16,200 vehicles from the streets of Sao Paulo.

Casablanca II will be developed, built, and operated by Atlas Renewable Energy. The project adds to its rapidly expanding footprint in the Brazilian market with a total of six large-scale solar plants amounting for more than 1 GW of capacity. “The adoption of renewables is becoming a staple of good corporate responsibility, and we at Atlas offer a unique opportunity for large energy consumers to clean their energy matrix and at the same time be sponsors of the social and environmental programs we develop to uplift the communities where we operate,” said Luis Pita, general manager of Atlas Renewable Energy for Brazil. “This contract is a testament to our company’s leadership in the renewable energy sector in Brazil, as we continue to implement tailor-made solutions with top-of-the-line technologies, elevating industry standards and providing a competitive edge to our clients. It’s an honor to work with a national chemical leader such as Unipar and partner with them to advance their sustainability goals.”

“This is one more move toward sustainable solutions that improve the company’s efforts in the search for energy matrices from renewable sources, guaranteeing access to the essential input for our operation and generating greater competitivity through self-production,” said Mauricio Russomanno, CEO of Unipar. “The total amount of generated energy destined to Unipar will be enough to produce chlorine for the water treatment to more than 60 million people.”

As part of Atlas Renewable Energy’s commitment to the areas where it operates, the construction of Casablanca II is set to contract about 1200 workers in the peak of its activity. The company will also be executing a series of environmental and social programs including the female workforce program: “we are all part of the same energy.” The program focuses on the promotion of inclusive practices by empowering the local female workforce through training. With this, Atlas Renewable Energy has a goal of having at least 15% female representation in the total workforce during the plant’s construction. This initiative will allow local women to have access to new job opportunities within the project’s construction, generate an opportunity for their economic stability, and enhance their skillsets and potential by integrating them into more technical jobs.