Mendubim solar plant delivers energy to Alunorte alumina refinery
Hydro Rein, Equinor and Scatec are starting operations at the Mendubim solar project in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil.
The Mendubim solar plant in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. (Photo: Scatec)
The 531 megawatt (MW) solar plant has been developed in a partnership between renewable energy solutions providers Scatec, Equinor and Hydro Rein. With this milestone achievement, the solar plant has begun delivering electricity to Hydro’s alumina refinery Alunorte.
“We are thrilled to complete the first of Hydro Rein’s renewable energy projects in Brazil. Our mission is to develop renewable energy solutions for more sustainable industries and Mendubim does just that. Most of the power output will go to Hydro’s alumina refinery Alunorte in Para, supporting one of the largest decarbonization projects in the world. We are very proud to take part in this development together with Equinor and Scatec,” says Head of Hydro Rein, Olivier Girardot.
Alunorte will purchase approximately 60 percent of the expected power produced through a 20 year USD denominated power purchase agreement (PPA). The remaining volumes will be sold in the Brazilian power market.
“We have a very robust roadmap to decarbonization to produce greener alumina at the Alunorte refinery which will bring us to be one of the lowest carbon emitting refineries in the world by 2030 and reach zero emissions by 2040. With this project we reinforce Hydro’s commitment to deliver zero-carbon aluminium products to customers and Alunorte is an important enabler of the overall ambition of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” says Alunorte’s Operations Vice President, Carlos Neves.
“This project marks a pivotal milestone in realizing our strategic objectives and reinforces our position in a prominent renewable energy growth market, bolstered by our partners Equinor and Hydro Rein. The burgeoning solar energy market in Brazil aligns with our commitment to sustainable progress, and we are excited to advance this impactful project with approximately three million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents avoided,” says Scatec’s CEO, Terje Pilskog.
“Launching a major new solar plant in Brazil in partnership with Scatec and Hydro Rein is an important achievement. Equinor has conducted business in Brazil for over two decades, and we see the country as a core area for long-term profitable growth. By investing in renewable energy, we are supporting Brazil’s ambitions towards a diverse energy mix and helping to meet the expected power demand growth in the country,” says Olav Kolbeinstveit, Senior Vice President for Onshore and Markets within Renewables at Equinor.
All three partners have an equal economic interest of 30 percent in the project. In conjunction with the start of commercial operations, Alunorte has exercised its call option and now holds the remaining 10 percent.
