Chinese tier one manufacturer Trina Solar will supply PV modules to ‘Marcovia Solar’, a 42.5MW solar farm in Honduras which is scheduled to go online during the second quarter of this year.
Gestamp Solar, headquartered in Spain, is developing the plant in Marcovia in the southern Choluteca region of the Central American country. Trina Solar will supply 160,000 of its high efficiency PC14-310W modules to Marcovia Solar, Gestamp’s first plant in Honduras. The ground mounted plant will also be fitted with 300 solar trackers and is expected to have an annual output of 93GWh.
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In common with several other countries in Latin America, PV deployment in Honduras appears to be quickly gathering pace. In December, US vertically integrated PV energy services firm SunEdison announced the closing of a US$146 million debt facility to build 81.7MW of solar in the country, the same week as construction began on a 61MW project for developer Gauss Energy. Earlier this week, the president of neighbouring Guatemala attended the inaugration of Horus, a 50MW PV plant, according to reports. GTM Research highlighted in a recent report that Latin America’s market for solar grew 370% in 2014.
Trina Solar said in a statement that it and Gestamp Solar, in line with these findings, both saw Latin America as a “high potential market” and considered the deal for the Marcovia plant to be a “significant development…[as Gestamp and Trina] look to strengthen their presence in the region”.
Ben Hill, Trina Solar’s president for Europe and Africa meanwhile spoke specifically about market potential in Honduras.
“With ample space and a good climate, the country holds a wealth of potential for solar PV energy generation. Moreover, solar offers local businesses and residences a reliable, efficient and clean energy source, making it a particularly attractive prospect for the region,” Hill said.
“Latin America is a key target market and this project will be strategically significant as we continue to expand our global footprint.”
