Million-Dollar Investment in Minas Gerais: GDSolar to Build 11 Solar Photovoltaic Plants in the State

Currently, Minas Gerais accounts for one fifth (19.9%) of the country’s distributed generation, according to the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy

Minas Gerais, which has always had mining as a reference for sources of wealth, has now turned to solar energy as an economic ally, with investments gaining prominence in the State. Last Wednesday, the São Paulo company GDSolar announced more than R$ 300 million in investments by 2021. Initially, R$ 105 million will be allocated for 11 new photovoltaic plants in the Triângulo Mineiro. 200 thousand jobs in Brazil generated through the implementation of photovoltaic solar energy

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According to GDSolar’s CEO, Alexandre Gomes, the other R$ 200 million is expected to be invested by the end of 2021. “By then, we will go from 18 to 35 plants,” announces Gomes. Despite the company’s headquarters being in São Paulo, Minas accounts for 40% of the group’s business. “In addition to having the best climatic conditions, the State has a policy of incentives for solar energy consumption.”

The cities receiving the investments are Iraí de Minas, Guarda Mor, Ibiá, Nova Ponte, Frutal, and Inimutaba, in the Alto Paranaíba, Northwest, Triângulo Mineiro, and Central regions.

Currently, Minas Gerais accounts for one fifth (19.9%) of the country’s distributed generation, according to the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar). Following that are Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo, each with 12.5%.

The simplification for implementing photovoltaic energy companies, the best legislation in the segment in Brazil, and the most effective incentives for solar energy generation, along with the high incidence of sunlight, are key factors for attracting new business to the state.

The Deputy Secretary of Economic Development, Fernando Passalio, highlights that Minas has the best solarimetric index in the world, but besides the climatic factors, the incentive plan offered by the government justifies the expansion of investments. “It is the only State that offers the energy transmission availability map, a model that the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) is considering including as a national policy,” he highlights.

Passalio states that solar energy has been sharing the spotlight with mining at the top of the rankings of major economic activities. “It brings many opportunities for wealth and job generation, especially for poorer areas like Northern Minas. There, we have R$ 28 billion in formalized solar energy business and another R$ 18 billion in negotiation,” he explains. In total, Minas has R$ 56.14 billion in closed or projected investments.

Paracatu Will Gain a Photovoltaic Solar Plant from Solatio Energia Livre

By the end of October, Solatio Energia Livre will inaugurate a photovoltaic solar plant in Paracatu, in the Northwestern region of Minas. The investment amounts to R$ 32 million. Currently, this region of the State has R$ 5.7 billion in confirmed and projected investments, according to a report from the Investment and Foreign Trade Promotion Agency of Minas Gerais (Indi).

By 2023, Solatio Energia Livre will invest about R$ 21 billion in photovoltaic plants in the State of Minas Gerais. “Of that total, R$ 1 billion is allocated for distributed generation, to serve residences and small commercial establishments, and the other R$ 20 billion is for large-scale plants,” emphasizes the company’s CEO, Walter Fróes. In addition to Paracatu, Solatio will also install plants in Mirabela, Pirapora, Janaúba, and Manga, in Northern Minas.