Major European economies and Ottawa ask for meeting with López Obrador’s government to address concerns over new restrictions to green energy projects on COVID-19 “stability” grounds.
López Obrador’s government stages latest conflict against sector after freezing solar and wind project connection, amid claims green energy hinders grid reliability in COVID-19 era.
Firm says green energy ‘mission’ will steer actions at time of COVID-19 uncertainty, as shareholders back US$500m raise to fund US$1.8bn plan to deploy solar and wind in Chile and Colombia.
New figures from regulator UPME show nearly 70% of all energy projects currently proposed are solar, setting the scene for growth spurt in the country using auctions to catch up on the renewable front.
Bolsonaro government postpones renewables-only tender (A-4) and auction also open to conventional sources (A-6), putting at least nearly 30GW of solar bids in the air.
Group notes outbreak could see construction contracts postponed but insists it can reach 1GW-by-2020 installed capacity target, amid PV work in Brazil, Portugal, France and others.
Italian energy giant argues most of its EBITDA comes from contracted activities, with financial results showing firm built 3GW of green energy in 2019 and is eyeing a further 4GW in 2020.
Plans by investor to develop US$450m grid-connected plant mark latest move of a series by international firms plotting solar megaprojects in high-irradiation region of Antofagasta.
Deal touted as "largest solar contract" ever signed in Brazil will support development of 330MW PV plant in southeast of country, set to power miner's nickel and iron operations.
