Enel starts constructing 103 MW solar power plant in Brazil

(AGI) Rome, Sept 13 - Italian energy giant Enel, through its subsidiary Enel Green Power Brasil Participacoes (EGBP), has begun constructing the Horizonte solar power plant in Tabocas do Brejo Velho, in Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia. "The start of the Horizonte construction works is another important step for Enel's growth in Brazil," said Enel's Country Manager in Brazil, Carlo Zorzoli. "Once again, we've shown that we're a reliable player in Brazil's energy sector, building environmentally sustainable energy plants within the framework of the energy capacity we've been awarded through public tenders." Once completed, the 103 MW (Megawatt) plant will power more than 220 GWh (Gigawatt hour) per year, covering the annual energy needs of more than 108,000 Brazilian families and eliminating some 129,000 tons of CO2 emissions from the equation. Horizonte, owned by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) held by EGBP, should become operational in the second half of 2017. Enel is investing around 110 million dollars of the Group's resources to complete the project. The solar power plant will be supported by 20-year sales contracts with Brazil's Chamber of Commerce for electric energy (Camara de Comercializacao da Energia Eletrica). The Enel Group won the contract for the project at the end of the "Leilao de Reserva" public bid in August 2015, as well as for the Nova Olinda (292 MW) and Lapa (MW) plants, making it the top player in Brazil's solar energy industry in terms of installed capacity and projects in the making. Enel Group is also building two other solar power plants in the state of Bahia: Ituverava (254 MW) and Lapa (158 MW). The Horizonte and Ituverava plants are located near each other, enabling EGBP to synergise both the construction and execution phases of the two projects, which will share interconnection infrastructure. EGBP has a total installed capacity of 546 MW in Brazil, of which 401 MW are wind power, 12 MW solar, and 133 MW hydroelectric. The company also has ongoing projects for 442 MW of wind power, 102 MW of hydroelectric power, and 807 MW of solar power. (AGI). .