The Brazilian mining company Vale has announced that the 766 MW Sol do Cerrado solar park, located in the city of Jaiba, state of Minas Gerais (central Brazil), has started generating power in four of its 17 sub-farms. The US$590m solar park, comprised of 1.4 million solar panels, is expected to reach its full capacity in July 2023.
Construction of the Sol do Cerrado solar park started in 2021. The project also comprises an elevator substation, a 230 kV transmission line and a connection bay at the Jaíba substation. The project will contribute to Vale’s climate goals of cutting its net carbon emissions by 33% by 2030 and achieving zero net emissions by 2050.
In October 2022, The government of Minas Gerais authorised an agreement between the Chinese state-owned energy group CGN and the Brazilian mining company Sul Americana de Metais (SAM) for the construction of another 800 MW solar park in the north of the Minais Gerais state.
At the end of 2021, solar accounted for 7% of Brazil’s installed capacity with 13 GW, behind wind (11%, 21 GW) and hydropower (57%, 109 GW).
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