Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, visits Hydro Rein's newly commissioned solar complex in Minas Gerais

This week, Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, visited Vista Alegre, a newly commissioned solar power complex in Janaúba, Minas Gerais.

As one of the largest solar complexes in Latin America, Vista Alegre exemplifies Hydro Rein's dedication to advancing Brazil's energy sector and supporting the decarbonization of industries nationwide.

Minister Silveira has emphasized Brazil's leadership in the global energy transition and underscored the importance of harnessing the country's diverse renewable energy resources. Minas Gerais, with its vast lands and abundant sunshine, has emerged as a prime location for solar power development.

"We have been working on public policies to support the expansion of our energy production, mainly through renewable sources, such as solar energy. And Minas Gerais has stood out in attracting large investments, mainly in the northern part of the state, which has great potential for solar photovoltaics. With this, we have been able to transform the outlook of the region, generating thousands of jobs and diversifying the economy, while also ensuring Brazil's leadership in clean energy generation," comments Silveira.

Vista Alegre is Hydro Rein's second solar complex in the region, developed in partnership with Atlas Renewable Energy. The complex boasts an installed capacity of 902 MWp and is expected to generate 2 TWh of clean energy annually, sufficient to power a city of approximately 3 million inhabitants, such as Brasília. This energy production will also prevent the emission of 154,000 tons of CO2 each year.

The project has set several records, including being the largest solar complex built in a single phase in Brazil, completed in just 16 months. Additionally, it holds the Latin American record for the most solar modules installed in a single day, with 38,398 panels.

"We are honored to welcome Minister Alexandre Silveira and showcase the substantial economic and social benefits of our projects. Our dedication to decarbonizing industries while at the same time creating jobs, fostering local development, and promoting sustainability is perfectly aligned with the government's vision for a prosperous and sustainable future," says Marcela Jacob, Head of Hydro Rein Brazil.

Sustainability has been a cornerstone of the Vista Alegre project from the outset. Significant investments were made in socio-environmental initiatives aimed at local development. In collaboration with Atlas Renewable Energy, the We are part of the same energy program was launched, training 422 women in the region to increase female participation in renewable energy projects. The goal is to boost the presence of women by at least 15%, reinforcing the importance of inclusion in the energy sector.

Hydro Rein has been working with Atlas Renewable Energy and Albras on the Vista Alegre project since 2021. In March 2023, Hydro Rein secured an option to acquire a minority stake in the project. In 2023, the project also secured equity investments and signed a 21-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Brazil's largest single power consumer and aluminum producer, Albras.