ATLAS RENEWABLE ENERGY’S 600MWP CASABLANCA AND LAR DO SOL SOLAR PLANTS ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL

With the operation of these two solar plants, which are supplying Unipar and Anglo American with clean energy, Atlas ranks among Brazil’s largest solar generation companies. 

SAO PAULO, SEPT. 27, 2023 – Atlas Renewable Energy, an international leader in renewable energy generation, announced that its solar plants Lar do Sol and Casablanca in Pirapora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, are fully operational and supplying clean power to Unipar and Anglo American, respectively. Together, these projects have an installed capacity of nearly 600 MWp and will generate over 1.2 GWh of clean energy per year. 

The Lar do Sol solar plant serves Unipar, a leader in the production of chlorine and soda and the second-largest PVC producer in South America. The Casablanca solar plant supplies energy through a PPA with Anglo American, a global mining company, that is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Brazil this year and currently has iron ore and nickel operations in the country.   

“By opting for PPAs, companies such as Unipar and Anglo American demonstrate a long-term commitment to sustainability. In addition to the environmental factor, investment in renewable energies brings commercial competitiveness to the business and has a positive impact on the brands,” said Luis Pita, General Manager for Atlas Renewable Energy in Brazil. 

ABOUT LAR DO SOL  SOLAR PLANT 

Aligned with its sustainability goals, Unipar has committed to powering 80% of its operations in Brazil through self-production renewable energy projects by 2024. Lar do Sol is an example of this commitment, which operates based on a 19-year PPA signed between Atlas and Unipar in 2021. 

With 239 MWp of installed capacity and generating 540 GWh/year, Lar do Sol supplies energy to Unipar’s Cubatão plant, which produces the chlorine used to treat the water that supplies more than 60 million people.   

Banco do Nordeste do Brasil (BNB) provided a R$ 407 million loan to fund the project.  

ABOUT CASABLANCA  SOLAR PLANT 

The 15-year PPA signed between Atlas and Anglo American is in line with the mining company’s Sustainable Mining Plan, which, among several goals and objectives, aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions in all its operations by 2040. The signing of this contract has helped Anglo American achieve a 100% renewable electricity matrix in its projects in Brazil – a milestone the company recently reached. 

With more than 800,000 bifacial photovoltaic modules, Casablanca has an installed capacity of 359 MWp, generating 820 GWh/year, which will avoid 61,500 tons of CO_² emissions a year.  

Atlas financed this project with a USD 150 million loan it obtained from IDB Invest in 2021. 

ESG    

During the construction of the Lar do Sol and Casablanca solar plants, significant investments were made in socio-environmental initiatives aimed at fostering local development. “We are all part of the same energy”, Atlas’ flagship program, provided education to more than 334 local women on various aspects such as solar panel mounting, electrical wiring, and masonry. Over 75% of the participants were employed by Atlas’ contractors during the construction of these two projects.  

About Atlas Renewable Energy  

Atlas Renewable Energy is an international renewable energy generation company with over 4 GW of contracted projects, of which 2.2 GW are operational. Atlas specializes in developing, financing, constructing, and operating renewable energy projects throughout the Americas since early 2017. The company includes an experienced team with a deep global power market and renewable energy expertise, with the longest track record in the renewable energy industry in the Americas and Europe.  

The company’s strategy is focused on helping large corporates make the energy transition to 100% clean energy. Atlas Renewable Energy is widely recognized for its high standards in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale projects, as well as a deep and long-standing track record in ESG and sustainable development. For more information, visit: www.AtlasRenewableEnergy.com