Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
The New Solar Power Plant Is Located in Northern Minas Gerais and Represents an Advance in the Renewable Energy Sector
On Monday (7/3), the state of Minas Gerais celebrated the inauguration of the largest solar power plant in operation in Brazil and one of the largest in Latin America. Located in the municipality of Janaúba, in Northern Minas, the Janaúba solar complex was officially inaugurated, marking a significant advance in the renewable energy sector in the country.
The solar energy project in Minas Gerais, with an investment of approximately R$ 4 billion, was carried out by Elera Renováveis and is situated near the Quem-Quem district. The Minas Gerais complex has a generation capacity of 1.2 GWp (gigawatt-peak), enough to supply over 1 million households. This amount of energy is equivalent to the consumption of the cities of Curitiba and Manaus combined.
The Janaúba solar complex in Minas Gerais spans an extensive area of 3,069 hectares, corresponding to about 4,300 soccer fields, and is composed of an impressive 2.2 million photovoltaic modules. During the installation works, which began in January 2021, approximately 11,000 direct and indirect jobs were generated, with around 70% of the workforce made up of local residents, as highlighted by Elera Renováveis.
-
Rio Grande do Norte surpasses 1 gWp in distributed generation, reaches 122.2 thousand connections, and accelerates the race for solar self-generation in homes, businesses, and rural properties.
-
Collection of ICMS on solar energy in Piauí generates debate in the Assembly and concerns consumers with self-generation of energy.
-
For the first time in history, 900 quilombola and riverine families in Marajó will have electricity — teams take solar panels by boat to communities without roads.
-
In 80 years building 22 thousand dams, Brazil impacted more than 4 million people — and the law approved in 2024 to protect those affected has not yet come into effect.
The Solar Power Plant and Its Location in Minas Gerais
The city of Janaúba, located about 550 kilometers north of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais, was strategically chosen to house the complex due to its favorable characteristics for solar energy generation. With high irradiation rates and little cloudiness, the region is recognized as one of the best in the country for the exploration of this type of renewable energy.
“The inauguration of the Janaúba Solar Energy Complex, the largest in Brazil in operation, is a milestone for the renewable energy sector. We also reinforce our quality and commitment to delivering clean energy to the country, and the solidity of a robust and secure operation, contributing to a sustainable energy transition. Furthermore, a large part of the energy from Janaúba is already sold, significantly helping our clients meet their decarbonization goals”, stated Fernando Mano, CEO of Elera Renováveis, during the inauguration ceremony.
The event was attended by various authorities and leaders from the energy sector, including the National Secretary of Electric Energy of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Gentil Nogueira de Sá Júnior, representing Minister Alexandre Silveira, the State Secretary of the Environment, representing Governor Romeu Zema, the President of the Energy Chamber of Commerce, Alexandre Peixoto, the President of the Energy Commission of the Legislative Assembly, Deputy Gil Pereira, the Mayor of Janaúba, José Aparecido Mendes, among other authorities present.
The Milestone in the Solar Energy Sector
The inauguration of the Janaúba solar energy complex represents a significant advance for the generation of clean and sustainable energy in Brazil, reinforcing the country’s commitment to transitioning to renewable sources and reducing pollutant gas emissions. Minas Gerais, with its solar potential, stands out as an important protagonist in this scenario, promoting regional development and contributing to the construction of a more sustainable future.
Be the first to react!