Elera Renováveis has commissioned the 1.2 GW Janaúba solar complex. The facility, which became operational this week, consists of 20 solar farms located on 3,000 hectares.
Elera Renováveis inaugurated a 1.2 GW solar energy complex this week in Janaúba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The project is America’s largest operating solar power plant.
Prior to the facility’s commissioning, the largest operational solar project in North and South America was the Villanueva project, consisting of the 427 MW Villanueva I and 327 MW Villanueva III installations in the Mexican state of Coahuila.
Elera Renováveis said it has invested BRL 4 billion ($819 million) in the Janaúba project, which consists of 20 solar parks located on an area of about 3,000 hectares. The Brazilian renewable energy developer started construction in January 2021.
In 2021, the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) approved BRL 1.47 billion in financing for the complex’s 14 facilities, representing 72 percent of the planned BRL 2.04 billion investment.
The complex has tracking systems from the American company Nextracker.
Janaúba has one of the most energy-efficient solar projects among municipalities in Brazil. It has released a video clip showing the first images of the massive facility on its YouTube channel.
