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Neoenergia has started the construction of one of its main clean energy projects, the Luzia solar parks, located in the municipality of Santa Luzia, in the Hinterlands of Paraíba. The beginning of the work on the complex was scheduled for the second half of 2021 and was anticipated with the issuance of the installation license by the Superintendence of Environmental Administration of the State (Sudema) authorizing the installation of the Luzia III park, where the work on the project will begin. With a total installed capacity of 149.3 MWp, the project is the company's first for centralized photovoltaic generation. The energy produced will be totally directed to the free market and the new asset will have operational synergy with other business of the company in the region, in wind and transmission.

"Advancing the installation of the Luzia solar plants is strategic for the company and its construction already begins with 100% of energy sold by 2026 in the Free Contracting Environment and 20% already sold by the end of its useful life. The project is perfectly aligned with our goal of expanding the portfolio of clean energy generation with value creation and, in this way, contribute to sustainable and low-carbon development," says Neoenergia's Renewable Projects superintendent, Leandro Montanher.

The company expects the commercial operation of the new project to start in the second half of 2022. The energy produced in the first four years is already fully commercialized in the free environment through long-term PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements). The capacity installed in the plants is equivalent to enough to supply more than 100 thousand homes, avoiding the emission of 65 thousand tons of CO² per year.

Two solar plants will be implemented in a leased area of 462 hectares, an area corresponding to 38 soccer stadiums such as the Fonte Nova Arena, located in Salvador (BA). 233,280 photovoltaic modules will be installed, that, if lined up, would have 309 kilometers, or the distance between Recife (PE) and Natal (RN). 7.7 thousand tons of steel will be used, almost the volume used in the Eiffel Tower, the French postcard, which has 10 thousand tons of steel.

The construction of the parks will generate economic benefits for landowners throughout the life of the project. Job creation is another advantage of the construction work, which is expected to create 700 jobs at its peak.

Operational synergy

The location of the photovoltaic plants enhances the Group's operational synergy. The project will be built approximately 11 kilometers from the Santa Luzia II substation, which is part of the transmission project acquired by the company in lot 6 of the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) auction 002/2017, with energization scheduled for this year. In addition, the infrastructure for connecting the plants will be shared with the  Chafariz Wind Complex where 15 wind farms with an installed capacity of 471.2 MW are being installed and are expected to start operating in the second half of 2021. Three wind farms, Canoas and Lagoa 1 and 2, are already operating in the region, with a total installed capacity of 94.5 MW.