BYD Agrees To New Brazilian Solar PV Facility

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Brazil’s recent solar growth is attracting another major player into its market.

According to pv magazine, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has agreed in principle with the labor office in Campinas, Brazil, for a new solar PV manufacturing plant.

Solar panels (left) are the sole source of energy for the runway lights at the 45th Operations Group, Detachment 2, at Ascension Auxiliary Airfield (AAF), South Atlantic Ocean. Ascension AAF's award winning economical self-sufficiency solutions also includes (nearby) wind turbines, drinking water production (center) and (nearby) waste water treatment. "It is exciting to see this base operate in a "green" environment day-to-day,Ó said Major Jay Block, commander of the detachment. ÒIt is cost effective and at the same time, protects our environment without interfering with any of our various missions down here. Going "green" has actually helped us become more efficient providing power, and water to the air field and the base" The mission of Det. 2 is support of eastern range space launches by collecting and disseminating radar, telemetry and tracking data. Some of the many radar and communication sites can bee seen on the hilltops. Many more are positioned throughout the volcanic island. Ascension island is 35 square miles in a remote island location midway between Brazil and Angola. The nearest country is Liberia - 1000 miles away. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)
Image Credit: Solar Panels via Flickr by Lance Cheung. Some Rights Reserved

BYD plans on spending $45 million (150 million Brazilian Reals), for the new solar manufacturing facility. This will go next to BYD’s bus manufacturing plant, and will create ~300 jobs. It’s expected the 200 MW new plant will start assembling solar panels in 2017.

BYD chose Brazil for its solar manufacturing plant because of its growing solar capacity. In 2016, Brazil will have a capacity of 30 MW of solar power with 39 power plants. Brazil’s solar capacity is expected to increase to 2,734 MW in 2019 from 134 plants.

“Such positive trend has prompted BYD Energy to set up PV module manufacturing in the country, resulting not only in the growth of the company’s sustainable development platform in South America but also in significant job creation and strengthening of a new productive chain in Brazil,” BYD added on why Brazil is a good choice for tits new solar plant.

Brazil has the potential of becoming a renewable energy superpower. Hydropower supplies more than 75% of Brazil’s electricity, third behind the United States and Canada for total production. Brazil has also grown its wind capacity with 8,700 MW of installed wind energy.

When available, hydroelectric power now provides clean and abundant energy. However, drought concerns in 2015 have Brazil looking at diversifying its energy portfolio to include more renewable sources, including wind and solar power.

BYD’s decision to support a new manufacturing plant in the heart of São Paulo is helping transform Brazil into a renewable energy superpower.

Related: Story Of Solar & Social Inspiration From Brazil (Video)


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Adam Johnston

is expected to complete the Professional Development Certificate in Renewable Energy from the University of Toronto by December 2017. Adam recently completed his Social Media Certificate from Algonquin College Continuing & Online Learning. Adam also graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a three-year B.A. combined major in Economics and Rhetoric, Writing & Communications in 2011. Adam owns a part-time tax preparation business. He also recently started up Salay Consulting and Social Media services, a part-time business which provides cleantech writing, analysis, and social media services. His eventual goal is to be a cleantech policy analyst. You can follow him on Twitter @adamjohnstonwpg or check out his business www.salayconsultiing.com.

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