Largest solar PPA signed in Brazil

Atlas Renewable Energy, along with Anglo American Plc, has signed the largest solar energy purchase and sale contract in Brazil with an investment of BRL881 million (US$187.8 million). The clean energy supply will be through the Atlas Casablanca photovoltaic solar plant, located in the State of Minas Gerais, and is expected to supply about 9 TWh during the life of the contract with Anglo American for 15 years and will begin in 2022.

The Atlas Casablanca solar plant has an installed capacity of 330MW with more than 800,000 modules. The plant will produce enough energy to supply a city of 1.4 million inhabitants, according to the average consumption of a Brazilian family. This contract is part of Anglo American's strategy to use 100% renewable energy for its operations in Brazil as of 2022 and is part of Anglo American Sustainable Mining Plan which has among its goals to reduce by 30% its CO2 emissions by 2030.

Atlas Renewable Energy will use bifacial modules at the Atlas Casablanca solar plant, an advanced technology in solar energy generation. These novel solar panels use the reflection of the solar rays from their front and rear sides, improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency and, thus, increasing the power generation and efficiency of the plant.

Wilfred Bruijn, CEO of Anglo American in Brazil, commented: "With this agreement and the contract for the construction of a wind power plant in Bahia signed in December, we will now obtain 90% of our energy from renewable sources, which will lead to 40% reduction in CO 2 emissions associated with our activities."

Luis Pita, General Manager of Atlas Renewable Energy for Brazil, emphasized: " This contract represents a leadership position on the part of Anglo American that demonstrates its commitment to the use of renewable energy in its operations, as well as the ability of Atlas to develop contracts bilateral for the supply of clean energy with high-level companies that share our interest in protecting and preserving the environment. The Atlas Casablanca project will be an important step and a precursor to the development of solar energy in a state as important as Minas Gerais."