The Enel Group’s Brazilian renewable energy subsidiary Enel Green Power Brasil Participações Ltda. (“EGPB”) has begun construction on a new 475 MW solar facility in Brazil, in São Gonçalo do Gurguéia, in Brazil’s northeastern state of Piauí, whilst its Spanish equivalent, Enel Green Power Espana (EGPE) has started building three projects in Spain.

São Gonçalo, which is expected to start operations in 2020, is the largest PV facility currently under construction in South America. The Enel Group will be investing around 1.4 billion Brazilian reais, equivalent to approximately 390 million US dollars, in the construction of the São Gonçalo PV facility.

“The start of construction of this PV plant strengthens our leadership in the Brazilian renewable energy sector and confirms once again the importance we give to the development of solar energy in the country,” said Antonio Cammisecra, Head of Enel Green Power. “São Gonçalo will further contribute to the diversification and resilience of the country’s energy mix, supporting a virtuous, economic cycle through the long-term supply of sustainable energy.”

Once fully up and running, the plant will be able to generate over 1,200 GWh per year while avoiding the emission of over 600,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.